Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Earlier this year, I held my community leaders forum with local leaders to discuss our vision for Casey. This conversation highlighted important issues for our region, including access to more affordable housing, the need to build stronger communities, increased mental health support and better disaster planning and preparedness. These are important challenges facing our region, and I've been working with our community to face them together.

As I talked to many young people, I listened to them share how the great Australian dream of homeownership has never felt further out of reach. Locally, I'm proud to be working with David and the Warburton Advancement League on a community led solution to develop a social and affordable housing village in Warburton. Recently, Peter Dutton and the coalition announced a strong plan to boost housing supply. One of the major impediments to new housing projects is the lack of funding for critical enabling infrastructure. Our plan will unlock the essential infrastructure needed that's delaying them, including in Casey.

Local leaders also raised the need for increased social connection and cohesion amongst our community, and I'll continue to promote ways for people to get involved locally. In September, I put out a call for volunteers to help knit poppies for a local Anzac display. We had over 100 offers to help from locals across the community. My office has become a wool collection point, where people can come and collect their supplies and patterns to help knit over 4½ thousand poppies for next year's display. This has provided locals with an opportunity to get involved, including for those that may find traditional volunteering opportunities unsuitable. The poppy project has blossomed into a large community led project, and it's fantastic that I've been able to use my platform as our local MP to connect our community.

Improving mental health support was also a key issue discussed. Young people, in particular, talked about the need for better services closer to home. Recently, I met with headspace Lilydale, EACH and Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network representatives, along with the shadow minister for health, to discuss the need for improved youth mental health services. With headspace Lilydale open for limited hours and the Lilydale Youth Hub now closed, our community has become a mental health desert. Our young people deserve support, and I'll continue advocating for improved local services.

I've also met with local mental health advocates to discuss the coalition's commitment to increase Medicare funded mental health sessions from 10 back to 20. This increased access will support people in Casey, young and old, to get the help they need without the added financial stress. I'm committed to this increase, and I will keep working to deliver this for Casey.

Our region is surrounded by natural beauty from the spectacular Dandenong Ranges to the scenic Yarra Valley; however, we know all too well that with this beauty comes the need to prepare and plan for natural disasters. The former Liberal government invested $10 million to implement Resilient Yarra Ranges to help our communities be better prepared for future bushfires and severe storms. The Liberals listened and acted to deliver a plan for safer, more resilient communities.

We all know that a reliable phone service is essential for emergency services and everyday life. The former Liberal government funded mobile towers to improve connectivity. Since becoming our MP, I've spent the past 2½ years advocating for improved telecommunications in our community, and I worked collaboratively across the political aisle with the Minister for Communications to make sure Casey was not overlooked. It is fantastic that Lilydale and the surrounds will benefit from improved telecommunications coverage. However, it's disappointing that the hills and Upper Yarra have, once again, missed out, and I'll keep working to improve our local telecommunications connectivity.

I'm proud to be working with locals to build an even stronger Casey, and it's only by listening that I can do this. I'm proud to be our community MP, and I look forward to continuing the conversation with locals so that I can keep delivering for Casey. I thank those community leaders who volunteered their time for the community leaders forum and also for the ongoing support and volunteer hours they put in to make sure that our community is stronger, is connected and continues to flourish now and into the future.