Sam Rae (Hawke, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Hawke is one of the fastest growing communities in this country. That growth brings enormous opportunity, but it also brings pressure on infrastructure, on services and on the people who call our suburbs home. That's why the Albanese Labor government is stepping up to meet that challenge. People want roads that work, health care they can rely on and opportunities close to home. Since being elected in 2022, that's exactly what I've been focused on delivering for our community.

When it comes to health care, we're making sure that no-one in Hawke is left behind. Sunbury was one of the first communities in the country to receive a Medicare urgent care clinic, and it's already treated over 20,000 patients. This clinic provides fully bulk-billed walk-in care for non-life-threatening conditions, easing pressure on local hospitals. In Melton, the urgent care centre there has been operating since mid last year, delivering the same high-quality, accessible care to families all across our region. And we're going further, with the biggest investment in Medicare since it was created. The Albanese Labor government is investing $8½ billion to strengthen Medicare, including by tripling the bulk-billing incentive. That tripled incentive already supports children, pensioners and concession card holders, and from 1 November it will expand to cover all Australians, making it easier for everyone to see a doctor without cost getting in the way.

We're also fixing the roads that locals rely on. After years of it being ignored by the former Liberal government, we're investing a billion dollars to upgrade the Western Freeway between Melton and Caroline Springs. That means more lanes, wider overpasses and new interchanges, delivering faster, safer travel for the 86,000 people who use it daily.

In Bacchus Marsh, with $25 million in federal funding, we're helping to deliver a long-awaited indoor pool. It will support learn-to-swim programs, rehabilitation and healthy lifestyles for people of all ages and abilities. In education, we're bringing opportunities closer to home. A new suburban university study hub is coming to Melton, giving students access to campus-style facilities and support without the long commute. And, with $15 million for the Cobblebank Community Services Hub, we're backing a six-storey centre to deliver health, family and employment services in one accessible location.

While we're delivering services and infrastructure, we're also making sure people can keep more of what they earn. Labor's tax cuts mean that every taxpayer will benefit. An average household with two full-time workers will save an additional $536 in 2026-27 and over $1,000 each year from 2027-28 on top of the tax cuts that were already delivered. That's real cost-of-living relief going straight into the pockets of working families. (Time expired)

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