Libby Coker (Corangamite, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Albanese government is backing in rapidly growing regions like mine because Labor understands the importance of the regions and how much we need to support them. We're delivering critical investment to build a better future for locals across my electorate of Corangamite, from major road improvements to rail upgrades, from new facilities for footie and netball clubs to new learning centres for schools, supports for men's sheds, community houses, surf lifesaving clubs, food relief services and farmers and primary producers.

That's not all. We're upgrading Barwon Heads Road in the fast-growing suburb of Armstrong Creek. We're upgrading dangerous intersections like Grubb Road in Ocean Grove, Reserve Road in Grovedale and Murradoc Road in St Leonards. Then there's the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds rail line, which includes $784 million of federal government investment. There's the Midlands Highway in Bannockburn. Then there are road upgrades across the Surf Coast, the Otways and across regional Victoria. We've upgraded school technology in schools like Surf Coast Secondary College and Drysdale Primary School.

We're strengthening Medicare for regional Australians, rolling out Medicare urgent care clinics across our country, including one right in the heart of my region. And, of course, bulk-billing rates are on the up, enabling more people to see a GP without it impacting their bank balance. Medicare billing data shows that the Albanese government is working to strengthen Medicare. We've revived bulk billing with Australians in regional Australia, having had an additional 586,000 free visits to a GP in the past year. That's a fact. No matter how those opposite try to spin it, the data speaks for itself.

We also know that free TAFE is changing the lives of so many people across my region and Australia. Australians across the nation are embracing this opportunity and embarking on a new journey as builders, electricians and support workers in the aged-care and care sector. More than 500,000 Australians have jumped at this opportunity to get the skills they want and to fill the jobs our nation needs.

But we know all of this is at risk under the coalition. I can't imagine how devastated my communities would feel to have fee-free TAFE scrapped or to have their Medicare urgent care clinic closed. It would be heartbreaking. The coalition need to make clear what their plans are for these crucial services and opportunities that improve the lives of regional Australians.

For women and families, we also know paid parental leave is at risk. Our government is expanding the program to 26 weeks for new parents, with super payments included. It's a policy that is truly life changing, and it's a clear example of how our Labor government is prepared to support families. We understand that family is the foundation of a prosperous and optimistic nation, and the most critical time for a family is when a child is born.

We're also about to have groundbreaking, new educational agreements to properly fund public schools. This matters in the regions. Under the coalition, this is all at risk.

This is an opposition that favours long lunches over support for families, and they want to slash workers' wages and rip apart the Public Service—a Public Service that is reducing waiting times for so many of the supports Australians rely on. These services matter to people. They improve lives.

The Albanese government are committed to building on our work and empowering regional Australia. We're committed to forging a future that opens the door to opportunities for families across the Bellarine and Surf Coast, across wider Geelong and across the regions of the nation. It's a future where workers are supported, infrastructure is actually delivered and our manufacturing industries are revitalised.

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