Andrew Willcox (Dawson, Liberal National Party) | Hansard source

As a father first, I know the challenges and blessings of raising children, and I would agree with the old adage that it takes a village to raise a child. But imagine if that village wasn't properly equipped to cater for the child's needs. This is the reality of a lot of rural and regional areas across Queensland. There is more we could do, but today I want to celebrate a win for the northern part of my electorate. After considerable advocacy efforts from myself and the member for Herbert, Phil Thompson OAM—this is following the Albanese Labor's decision to cut funding from programs designed to help our community—the Townsville suburb of Idalia is soon to be the home of a new, vital community asset that is set to change the lives of local families raising children with autism. On the 12th of this month I was overjoyed to attend the turning of the first sod ceremony for the new AEIOU Foundation facility in Idalia. This new purpose-built facility will allow AEIOU to open spaces to support 12 additional children within the centre and an additional 40 children remotely. Not only is this a win for the coalition but it's a win for the people of Dawson. It's the village that it will take to raise the children with autism.

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