House debates

Monday, 25 November 2024

Adjournment

Tangney Electorate

7:34 pm

Photo of Sam LimSam Lim (Tangney, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I love doorknocking. To me, it is the best barometer to understand the issues and challenges that matter most to my community. As I've doorknocked hundreds and hundreds of homes from Canning Vale to Bicton, here is a question I often get asked: 'Sam, what have you done from the last two years?' Well, here's my book, my homework. I will always give it to them and say, 'Please have a read.' I give them this book. I am so proud to serve the community of Tangney, and for the past two years I have delivered many positive changes.

Tangney is one of the most diverse communities in Australia. With more than 160 different ancestries, this multiculturalism deserves to be nurtured. I have delivered on commitments including a $1 million contribution to the Perth Hindu Temple in Canning Vale so it can grow and expand. I've also delivered a $1.75 million contribution towards the construction of the new Chung Wah Community Centre. Community language learning in Tangney is thriving. As someone who speaks to my children and grandchildren in our home language of Chinese Mandarin, I'm so proud of the teachers and parents and children who are committed to learning some of our community's many languages. Grants were given to 13 community language schools to serve more than 1,400 students in Tangney.

The environment is a top concern. I have schoolchildren writing to me with their bold ideas and community groups focused on different areas of climate action. We have invested $10 million to better protect and preserve the Canning, Southern and Wungong Rivers, with a further $3.5 million invested to protect the ecological health of the Swan-Canning Estuary.

For many parents, including myself, education is everything. The agreement with the WA Labor government to invest an additional $1.6 billion to fully fund all WA public schools is so important. In Tangney, our Labor government has made additional investments in local schools for upgraded facilities. One school that received an upgrade is Applecross Senior High School, which also won the 2024 WA Education Award for excellence in teaching and learning for a secondary school. I recently celebrated World Teacher's Day at Applecross Senior High School. It's clear from the teachers, support staff, parents and leadership to the dedicated students that this award is well-deserved.

Community is at the heart of Tangney. More than $120,000 in volunteer grants has been delivered to 46 not-for-profit organisations across Tangney. These grants assist sports clubs, church groups, service clubs like the Lions and St Vincent de Paul. The Melville Community Men's Shed is about to undergo renovation with a $250,000 investment. The Men's Shed has been pivotal for addressing mental health and fostering connection.

We know that community sport is essential for connection and wellbeing. I have delivered on lighting upgrades for Melville City Hockey Club to help the club have adequate facilities to play at night. The resurfacing of the netball courts at Karoonda Reserve for the Tingara Netball Club helps many of the women and girls playing netball. There are new cricket nets for the Applecross Cricket Club and new shade sails for Murdoch University Melville Cricket Club. The new glass panels for the squash court at Blue Gum Park Tennis Club in Brentwood are especially exciting given the club's junior success.

There is, of course, more to do, and, just as I have every day, I look forward to continuing to work hard to serve and deliver for the people of Tangney.