Hollie Hughes (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention) Share this | Hansard source

Oh, God! A dam! How good would a dam or water security be! We could stop the flooding in the Hawkesbury that happens every 3½ minutes. Do you remember when Tim Flannery told us it was never going to rain again? Tell that to the people of the Hawkesbury who've been flooded out multiple times over the past couple of months. It's awesome!

I thought social welfare programs were your bailiwick. But, clearly, they're not, because you're prepared to put a billion dollars into new business cards rather than look at food assistance programs in a cost-of-living crisis that could actually help families that are struggling. You could put breakfasts in schools in lower-socioeconomic areas where kids come to school with an empty tummy. You could make sure there are lunches in schools.

I sponsor kids through the Smith Family. I try and help. You know those programs where you sponsor a kid in Africa? I always thought that, if there was some way you could help, homegrown, then you should help at home. I got a nice letter from the child that I am currently sponsoring. I've had a few, as they've graduated from school, and I get nice letters telling me where they've gone off to. One's learning to be a mechanic. I get a letter about what the money that I give has helped contribute to buying—uniforms, for example. It has helped contribute to buying schoolbooks.