Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

In my first speech in this place as the member for Spence, back on 1 August 2022, I said the following words which still ring true for me today: 'Strengthening our communities is the Australian way.'

It is on these terms that I am guided in my effort to best represent the constituents of Spence, because, for our local community across the northern suburbs of Adelaide, which has within it some of the most disadvantaged areas of metropolitan Australia, people on the ground must be the front and centre of its representatives' priorities.

With that ethos in mind, we've had some incredible outcomes under the Albanese Labor government since I was elected, which local voices helped to come to fruition. That's why I'm going to take the time to call attention to positive change we have seen under the Labor government in this term.

The Albanese Labor government's No. 1 priority is fighting the cost of living. We know that families across the country are doing it tough. I know that things are especially hard in my electorate of Spence. The northern suburbs of Adelaide are already disadvantaged, and this is not news to any residents that are watching. They also know that, instead of seeing a guy in a suit talk at issues, you want a government that makes them better—and rightly so. The federal Labor government hears you, and we're taking action to do just that. We have delivered a bigger, better and fairer tax cut for 91 per cent of taxpayers in my electorate compared to liberal alternative. That 67,000 people in Gawler, Elizabeth, Salisbury and everywhere in between who will earn, on average, $1,217 more every year because of this change. Chances are that, if you noticed your pay getting bigger since July this year, it's because of these changes. And we aren't stopping there either, because more needs to be done.

We're making housing more affordable for both buyers and renters throughout our Help to Buy and Build to Rent forms. They're providing significant financial support for 40,000 Australian families who are low- or middle-income earners to own their own home as well as taking pressure off the rental market by boosting affordable housing as part of our efforts to increase supply and drive down prices. We've also delivered $300 of energy bill relief for every single household in this country. We have boosted Commonwealth rent assistance by 40 per cent since 2022. We increased the low-income Medicare threshold last year to ensure over one million low-income earners either remain exempt from the Medicare levy or pay a reduced rate. We've overseeing a $54 90-a-fortnight increase to the JobSeeker payment. We've delivered a third consecutive pay rise for 2.6 million Australian workers. All the while, we've managed to put a lid on inflation, reducing it by over half its previous peak since coming to government.

Labor is delivering outcomes through policy, influenced by your experience on the ground, but we know as a government that this work isn't done. I know as your local member for Spence that many families in the north are still living week to week, still struggling with their bills, still struggling to buy groceries. That's why we're committed to policies that bring your costs down. That's why we're delivering positive changes that directly affect your livelihoods, as I've mentioned. And I will never stop advocating to do that, because the cost of living is Labor's No. 1 priority.

The Albanese Labor government is continuing to deliver local projects across the northern suburbs of Adelaide. This comes back to something I mentioned in my maiden speech: that strengthening communities is the Australian way. A Labor government is one that embraces the Australian way by ensuring that where we live continues to grow and remains up to scratch so that everyday Australian families can thrive in their communities. We have done that the city of Playford, funding a plethora of local projects in the suburbs of Elizabeth, Munno Para, Smithfield, Andrews Farm, Davoren Park, Angle Vale and more. These have included contributing over $1 million to upgrade and maintain sporting facilities in Kalara Reserve in Davoren Park as well as providing funding for works on the Mandeville and Willison-Goodman reserves in Davoren Park and Elizabeth South, respectively. That's come alongside nearly $10 million the federal government has provided to the City of Playford to fix and upgrade roads across our community since Labor was elected. With a multitude of projects either underway or completed, this funding includes over $5 million provided for Stebonheath Road upgrade alongside the $1.2 million contribution to fund a brand-new roundabout at the intersection of Dalkeith and Stebonheath roads and a complete overhaul of Kinkaid roads in Elizabeth East with an $800,000 contribution from the federal Labor government. Last but not least, there is a $15 million contribution for a dual-lane roundabout at the intersection of Curtis and Heaslip roads, fixing what the RAA called SA's riskiest intersection.

We've also contributed over $3 million to fund infrastructure in Salisbury, with the federal government covering the total cost of upgrades for the Burton Community Hub, Twelve25 in Salisbury and the improvements to Church and John streets as well as funding a $1.5 million upgrade for the Salisbury recreation precinct on Happy Home Drive and providing funds for the planned pedestrian costing for the Salisbury North Primary School, which is due to be completed next year.

Finally, let's talk about the town of Gawler. I'm so proud that the federal government has provided $400,000 to upgrade Dead Mans Pass and ensure this incredible amenity is safe for residents to enjoy. We have also provided over $1 million in funding to upgrade and maintain multiple roads in Kudla, Gawler South and Reid, alongside over $300,000 to construct playgrounds on Greenslade Boulevard, Calton Road and Julian Terrace.

Across all the areas of the electorate I've mentioned, I'm just scratching the surface. We have provided tens of millions of dollars through Roads to Recovery funding, which you can see in action across our community as roads are maintained and improved. Our commitment to our community is matched by our actions, and the Albanese Labor government has no intention of taking its foot off the pedal.

The Albanese Labor government believes in education. We believe in it because education is the master key to opportunity for Australians. It is the open door for people to create fulfilling lives individually, to thrive with their loved ones as a family and to build a community around them. But that key only works if all Australians can access it. That door slams shut if Aussies can't get to university or if they can't afford to access TAFE. Without that master key, our community sees existing disadvantage get worse. We see cycles of poverty continue which would otherwise be broken.

It is a priority of our government to be that circuit breaker and lift disadvantaged Australians from committees like the north—from suburbs like Elizabeth, Salisbury and Gawler—into places of learning so they can thrive. This is something I have fought incredibly hard to achieve over the course of my term and I'm proud to say that this is what Albanese Labor government is delivering.

If you're a current university student, I have some incredible news. You are going to have a brand new Suburban University Study Hub located right in the middle of Elizabeth, in the existing TAFE precinct, in 2025. This is going to slash your travel costs by bringing uni to your doorstep, turn your commute from a round trip of hours into a trip of minutes and help link you to the incredible opportunities to be had at TAFE—should you choose to pursue them—and vice versa for TAFE students. This is a massive outcome for our community, which currently has no university presence on this scale north of Mawson Lakes. It is an outcome the Albanese Labor government has delivered.

The good news continues for TAFE too. A Labor government will make 100,000 fee-free TAFE places a permanent feature of our education system, building on what has made TAFE more affordable and more accessible for over half a million Aussies. Furthermore, if you've already completed your study, we're levelling the playing field for you as well. We will reduce existing student debts by 20 per cent, if re-elected next year. We are changing the system so you only pay your debts off when you earn enough to afford it, and we have reversed the massive indexation on your student debt, which you would have seen last year.

We're doing this not just because former students deserve a fair go themselves but also to make the system fairer both now and in the future, because we want everyone to be able to access education, no matter who you are, where you are from or what you earn. This is what breaks down barriers for people, this is what creates livelihoods for families and this is what an Albanese Labor government is always going to do.

Health is a huge priority for the Albanese government. We know that Australians need to be able to access our world-class health care affordably, whenever they need it. I know that in the north it has become harder to access that care, whether that's seeing your GP, receiving emergency health care or accessing mental health support. That's why Labor is pulling out all stops to make this easier.

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