Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Facts matter in politics. We had the Parliamentary Library look at the facts around grant funding for the electorate of Wannon. Since 2016, we've had $694 million worth of grant funding. That is more than what has been allocated to the seat of Mallee and more than what has been allocated to the seat of Corangamite. In great news, the town of Hamilton and the Southern Grampians shire have just seen two results of the community's strong advocacy to make sure that we in the electorate of Wannon continue to get our fair share.

Last week, headspace opened in Hamilton. This incredibly important youth mental health service is now open and will be able to provide those services that are needed for young people in and around Hamilton. After all the hard work from the community and their strong advocacy, which has led to us now having this important youth mental health space open, this is just fantastic news. It augurs well for a very bright future for the young people in Hamilton.

But, not only that, we've also seen a recent announcement that we're about to get our own regional university centre. This gives me immense pride, because the community has advocated strongly for this. As Minister for Education, I was able to establish a national network of regional university hubs. To see that work now result in Hamilton having its own regional university centre is just wonderful news for the local community. It builds on other things that we have done, such as the wonderful Melville Oval redevelopment, which is taking place at the moment and will be finished nearly in time for the football and netball season opening this year. There's what we've been able to do to the livestock exchange, with new flooring and the new roof. There's the $5 million that's been allocated for the civic upgrade, and there's much, much more. I want to keep delivering for Wannon. I want to keep delivering for the southern Grampians and for Hamilton, and that is my commitment.

On the weekend, on Sunday, I was out doorknocking with the former prime minister Tony Abbott. It was 36 degrees, we were doing it in the afternoon and it was hot. At every door we knocked on, people had nothing but admiration for the fact that we were out there making sure that our cause was being put to people in a very polite but very warm way. After having knocked on a door and then been down to a few other doors, we were walking back up a set of apartments when Sharon popped out of the door, and Sharon had a big box of local icy poles and ice creams for us. She said, 'I've got nothing but admiration for you, being out here doing what you're doing, and I want to give you an ice cream.' And, in a truly Colac way, they were Bulla ice creams. They were from the local ice cream makers in Colac, Bulla, who produce fantastic products. I say to Sharon: your generosity was so, so welcome, and I think you absolutely deserve a shout-out in the parliament for your kindness. You put a smile on our faces. The little video clip we've put out about your generosity and kindness has basically gone viral, so a huge thankyou.

Yesterday I was doing my bit to try to keep the local community safe from the blaze in the Grampians. Can I send out a huge thankyou to Chris, Jason, Callum and Tom, who were with me on the Tarrington fire truck. They are dedicated volunteers and an absolute inspiration to our local community. As a matter of fact, all the CFA members at Tarrington are, as they are right across the electorate of Wannon, but to Chris, Jason, Callum and Tom I say: you made my day incredibly special, and I really thank you for that.