Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the end of last year I had the great pleasure of visiting the Australian Air Force Association, known as RAAFA, in Bull Creek. RAAFA is a fantastic organisation that offers retirement community living to senior Australians. They have seven retirement villages, comprising over 1,500 units in Western Australia.

On site at RAAFA Bull Creek is the Aviation Heritage Museum, comprising a collection of aircraft, including a World War II Lancaster bomber and a British Tornado fighter jet, which is very impressive. A recently-retired F/A Hornet will be received later this year. If you live in Perth or are holidaying, I strongly encourage you to take the time to visit this first-class museum.

RAAFA briefed me on their veterans homeless project in Cannington—the Andrew Russell Veterans Living centre. RAAFA have already purchased a parcel of land and have drafted designs for a 27-unit facility. This project will provide emergency housing for veterans and ex-Defence Force personnel in desperate need of a roof over their heads and will also offer affordable housing for those needing a more stable and long-term living solution. Once completed, this facility will offer veterans and ex-Defence Force personnel a chance for a fresh start and a new opportunity to get their life back on track.

RAAFA are looking for financial support from the federal government. I look forward to working with them to support this critical project. I encourage the government to take a look at it and see how it can offer the support that they need. This is a critical project to help our former service men and women who are doing it tough and have, unfortunately, fallen on hard times.