Gai Brodtmann (Canberra, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Sunday I had the pleasure of attending a family picnic day organised by the Fluffy Owners and Residents Action Group.

This day was a chance for Canberra and Queanbeyan families whose lives have been turned upside down by Mr Fluffy asbestos to come together on the lawns of Parliament House for a celebration. It was a chance to inspire hope in affected residents, to allow them to reclaim their lives and for their children to laugh, smile and have fun. It was also wonderful to meet so many of the families who I have spoken to in recent months.

The day was also the launch event of FOR Renewal, a fundraising and support organisation for displaced Mr Fluffy residents. I want to thank Clubs ACT, Maurice Blackburn and Zoo Advertising for their generous donations. These funds are being held in trust and will be applied 100 per cent to replace clothes, mattresses, linen, toys and fabric covered furniture for families who have been the hardest hit.

Congratulations to the event organisers and to FOR Renewal's cofounders: Natasha Parkinson, Elisa Thompson, Lisa Ziolkowski, Priya Reddy, Annabel Yagos and Brianna Heseltine. You are certainly proving the point that adversity makes our community stronger.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say 'hello 'to students from Alfred Deakin High School in my electorate of Canberra, who are in the gallery today. Hi Alfred Deakin—thanks for coming.