Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know at least one of the questions you're asking, Mr Speaker, and, yes, this is for a dare, a dare for a very worthwhile cause. First, let me introduce my alter ego, Tina Leyna Turner. This is worth a fair bit of cash. At a cancer support fundraiser held in Griffith last Friday my song partner, Glenn Starr, from the local Triple M Breakfast, challenged the 700-strong crowd to reach a $100,000 target, but only if I took Tina to Parliament House.

As any country MP will tell you, cancer can be a tougher curse in the country through the tyranny of distance. Two years ago I announced around $5 million from the coalition government for a new cancer centre in Griffith. That money gets you the bricks and mortar but there's always more needed for patient care, medical costs and equipment. No doubt inspired by the spirit of the occasion, the $100,000 was doubled to $200,000 by the chair of the Cancer Care Foundation, Dr Tony Noun, and his family.

I want to thank the incredible generosity of the Griffith and Leeton communities who made this night such an awesome success. When things need doing out in the Riverina we just get it done. A special thanks also to you, Mr Speaker, for allowing me to use parliament to support this worthwhile cause and for your generosity in also supporting the cause. I thank the House.