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

When I was elected as the federal Labor member for Tangney, it was a very humbling moment for me. Being a federal member means that I have the largest platform to impact meaningful changes and communicate the views of my electorate's constituents, who feel they have not been heard by their previous member. Outside of helping constituents and their respective groups with their queries and problems and listening to their feedback on the government, there was always one very common denominator question: they would ask me about funding. Where can they find the money to help fund a particular cause? Being in government let me understand that there is funding available for communities—funds that can be spent to improve facilities, help with availability of resources and, most importantly, help build a community.

But, as we all know, when we came into government, we encountered debt—$1 trillion of debt. Clearly, there's not as much money as we'd like to have. The Stronger Communities grants program is a significant program, one which has undoubtedly provided many benefits and played a significant role in supporting small-scale projects within our communities. However, times change and priorities shift. It is our responsibility as a society and as a government to adapt and make the most effective use of our resources, of which money plays a big part. By redirecting funds to other programs, we can better address the evolving needs of our nation, ensuring that the Australian people receive the maximum benefit for their tax dollars.

First and foremost, let's acknowledge that there's still money for our communities. There's money in the form of grants, and reprioritisation of these funds is not an attack on the principles that guided the Stronger Communities grants program. Instead, it is recognition that there are other pressing needs that require our attention. It is important to note that we also have the immensely popular Volunteer Grants program, which is one of the grants programs that still have members of parliament involved in the nomination process.

I want to share a story with you regarding grant funding. When I was newly elected, I came to understand that there were so many people in my electorate of Tangney who did not know that there was government grant money they could apply for. When I first became aware of the volunteer grants, the previous member had had only one organisation apply for 2021 and 2022 and be successful for just under $2,500. What happened to the remaining $60,000-plus? It was not allocated at all. So I made sure that the communities in my electorate of Tangney were aware of this grant and how to apply accordingly. I can happily say that 28 applications were successful for funding last year, and this year we have put forward 35 applications for consideration. I eagerly await the outcome of this later this month.

Everyone here knows that our constituents are crying out about the cost of living. It is essential to note that our country is currently facing economic challenges, which our government is addressing. Redirecting funds from the Stronger Communities grants program to other programs will enable our government to optimise our budget allocation and make targeted investments in areas that will foster economic growth and job creation. Our government's decision to redirect funds from the Stronger Communities grants program to other programs should be viewed as an adaptation to the challenging needs of our nation. It is a responsible approach to resource allocation, which is part of our government's commitment to addressing the concern regarding everyday Australians and ensuring that our local communities can continue to thrive.

See this speech in context