Jodie Belyea (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I acknowledge that we meet on the traditional lands of Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples. I pay my respects to their elders past and present. I represent Dunkley, a community on Bunurong and Boon Wurrong country, the land by the sea, the home of Nairm Marr Djambana, our local gathering place.

I'm a Frankston mum—with a husband, a son, two dogs and a mortgage—a community sector professional, an avid walker and lover of a good latte in the morning. I am the MP for Dunkley. This past week, this proud mum from Dunkley visited Governor-General Sam Moyston's house for a democracy sausage with MPs and senators from all parties and all parts of this country. We are the best democracy in the world—youthful when we compare ourselves to other democracies but also home to the world's oldest living culture.

As a white fella and proud Aussie, I'm very proud to call the Aboriginal people, First Nations people, my ancestors. I was born on Naarm land in Victoria, so First Nations people, in my mind, are my ancestors, and, because of this, I'm committed to advancing the independence and sovereignty of our nation's First Peoples locally and nationally, doing my bit through truth-telling and ensuring self-determination.

I was pleased to hear just last week that Frankston City Council agreed to extend the lease of the land of the building for Nairm Marr Djambana. I want to recognise Councillor Emily Green's role in forwarding the motion, which passed unanimously. It is also worth acknowledging the councillors and Mayor Councillor Bolam for supporting this measure. I look forward to working constructively with Deb Mellett OAM from The Gathering Place, Frankston City Council and Paul Edbrook, the state MP for Frankston, to ensure our local gathering place has the financial support to create a suitable cultural space, a place to call home for what is the fastest growing community of Aboriginal people in Victoria.

To be here today has been a marathon. The work of an incredible team of people supported me in the by-election over 18 months ago and the federal election just two months ago. To be able to climb two Everests in 14 months was possible because of my amazing husband, Dave Glazebrook, and son, Flynn. It was a family affair, with Dave being the chief bottle washer, cook and dog walker throughout this time while working and Flynn patiently by his side and helping me with social media messaging.

I was also supported by an incredible team of dedicated and committed volunteers and staff, friends and, of course, family who knew round 2 was coming swiftly after the by-election. We had no time to waste. There are a number of people I need to thank for their dedication to me and Dunkley: Deb and Roger Child, Sam Touren, Damon Jacobs, Robyna Cozens, Ann McGillvray, Colleen Gill, Aaron Robinson, Patrick Freeman, Pip Coulthurst, Quinney Brownfield-Hanna, Carter Wrangles, Noel Gregory, Rudy Blums, Pat and Ken Dreschler, Barb Kuhl, and Jamie Trotter. To Rod Glover: thank you for always being there on the other end of the phone no matter what.

Thank you to my state MPs from the south-east; your encouragement and wise words as I learnt the ropes were always welcomed: Paul Edbrooke, Sonya Kilkenny, Paul Mercurio, Lee Tarlamis, Pauline Richards, Michael Galea and Tim Richardson.

Thank you to my staff and campaign team: campaign manager Hamish Morrison, Majella, Jarrod, Maddy, Louis, Ana, Erin, Alyssa, Jasmine, Neo and of course Alfonso. This win is our win because of your work.

Thank you also to the supporters from the ALP, ASU Private Sector, ASU Authorities, Finance Sector Union, United Workers Union, Allan Griffin and Kat Hardy, and also to Senator Lisa Darmanin, Senator Jess Walsh, the member for Bruce and the member for Isaacs.

I may be the federal MP for Dunkley, the face on the building, but this win was our win, a result of dedication by all of you to our community—the party and the values of justice, equity and fairness. To the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters and the Australian Electoral Commission: participating in two elections in 14 months means I can say with some experience that we must make the election process more engaging and safer for voters. We need to lift the bar and raise the standards to ensure that all candidates operate with integrity as our positions of office require of us here in parliament. Furthermore, as we work to reduce the pollution caused by plastics we must reduce corflutes and bunting and the number of DLs we place in people 's letterboxes.

Engagement with politics and politicians is at an all-time low. If we are serious about lifting engagement we must do better and make changes to the processes and behaviour. I cannot forget election eve, when the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister visited a prepoll centre in Carrum Downs with me, and the horrendous, intimidating and aggressive behaviour from the opposition. We do not condone bad and inflammatory behaviour on social media for other sectors and professions by young people on the streets. We must expect the same for candidates, politicians, parties and the political process and walk the talk that we legislate.

I was part of the 47th Parliament for 14 months. I landed with a thud, dusted myself off after the by-election and got down to learning as much as I could before the federal election. I need to give a shout-out to be MP for Lalor for being a fabulous mentor during that time. You kept me moving in the right direction despite my being a deer in the headlights, sometimes going around in circles in the big house on the hill.

I also want to take the time to thank all my parliamentary colleagues. Unfortunately, politicians get a bad rap. Question time, or Hollywood hour theatrics, is often what the public judges us by. But actually my colleagues, the ALP caucus, are an incredible bunch of humans who care deeply about their communities, their constituents and this fine country. Their care and support of me in my first term was heartwarming. Thank you all.

When people say to me that parliamentarians like to hear the sound of their own voices, I now politely respond with confidence that parliamentarians are some of the best listeners going around. Look at our diaries and you will see a sea of meetings and events where the focus is on listening, learning and finding a solution—a job supported by our equally dedicated staff—providing information and support to our constituents with myriad issues, such as the NDIS, immigration and aged care.

During the federal election the Dunkley team and I knocked 37,000 doors, made 35,000 phone calls and had 20,000 conversations—a massive effort and the result of the diligent work of Jarrod Smyth and Neo Williams. Thank you both. When I was out on doors I was able to listen to locals' issues and concerns and support them to get help from the many incredible organisations in the electorate of Dunkley. I was able to write insights into what we are delivering to help Aussies, into government policy and to provide civics education—a doorstop take on the three levels of government in Australia and why voting is important. I learned we must deliver more civics education in our communities to ensure we bring politics to the people. In my second term I now have the incredible opportunity to action a number of priorities I spoke to in my first speech. One such commitment is building on civic leadership agenda of the Governor-General and Speaker of the House, and delivering the Dunkley emerging leaders program. I will be launching this in September so young people aged 16 to 19 from Dunkley interested in becoming change makers in the community can learn how to do just that. I will also host a series of forums and roundtables, a woman's roundtable with the Minister for Social Services and the Assistant Minister for Social Services and Assistant Minister for the Prevention Family Violence, where leaders from community organisations and women with lived experience will be able to discuss experiences, issues, and explore solutions with federal representatives.

I cannot wait to welcome the member Hunter, the Special Envoy for Men's Health to host a forum with the Men's Sheds in Dunkley and a roundtable with service providers. All of this and more will be included in my September newsletter.

The reforms the Albanese Labor government have initiated are phenomenal. On 1 July we announced the cost-of-living measures introduced last week, building on the important cost-of-living relief the government delivered in its first term. We've got the superannuation guarantee, which has risen from 11.5 to 12 per cent; and a new pay rise for millions of Australians, with three million people getting a 3.5 per cent pay rise. We have also introduced a 30 per cent discount on home batteries to cut power bills. We have introduced paid prac for student nurses, teachers, social workers and midwives, and a 10k bonus for construction apprentices over the life of their apprenticeship—this and so much more.

Over the last three years we have delivered the following in Dunkley, thanks to the leadership of my predecessor the late Peta Murphy: the Jubilee Park Stadium; Kananook and Frankston Station car parks, a Medicare urgent care clinic and funding for a Frankston district basketball stadium of $15 million, which commenced last week. And over the next three years I will do what the Prime Minister has asked us to do: be focused and vigilant about delivering for our communities. I will follow through with the Homes for Australia plan, the biggest-ever housing spend in Australia since World War II, ensuring I do my bit to ensure we build 1.2 million homes in Australia. I have been working behind the scenes this past 12 months with key stakeholders in the community of Dunkley to support the planning so we can build more social and affordable housing in our community for families, for women and for key workers so no-one is left behind.

At the federal election the Albanese government committed $109 million to Dunkley. That is phenomenal. Over the next three years, with my state and local colleagues and many community organisations, I will work to address and build: the $50 million Nepean Highway-Overton Road intersection; the $25 million Thompson Road upgrades; the $5 million upgrade to Bruce Park and Len Phelps Pavilion; and the $1.7 million upgrade to Frankston Bowling Club, including $500,000 to seek volunteers. That and so much more. Just last week I announced that 12 organisations received a share of $120,000 through the Stronger Communities funding. These local organisations are doing great work for local people and include the Miscarriage Information Support Service, Mums Supporting Families in Need, the Lyrebird Community Centre, the Hindu Society of Victoria, Local 2 Community, Langwarrin Community Centre, Kunyung Pre School, Wannai Preschool, the Pines Community Men's Shed. BAM Arts, Street Peace and 1st Ballam Park Scout Group. Thanks to Kathy Heffernan, Pip Coulthurst, Wayne Holdsworth and Stephen Sparrow for being part of the working group that was part of the selection process.

In addition to this, we will continue to invest millions into mental health through Medicare mental health hubs, headspace, men's sheds and Movember as well as increasing medications on the PBS, but there is more that we need to do, and I'm committed to doing just that. I'm proud that in the 47th Parliament the Albanese Labor government implemented seven out of the 31 recommendations from the Murphy report on the harm of gambling advertising. This government takes seriously its responsibility to protect children from harm. Last year, we passed a social media ban to ensure children and young people under the age of 16 are safer from predators. Mental health is a silent epidemic in this country, and this ban goes one step further towards creating protective barriers so our children don't fall victim to malicious and harmful content.

My other priority is, of course, the environment. Dunkley has an abundance of natural beauty, beaches and reserves on offer, and it's fair to say that as residents we make the most of them. I certainly know I do. However, I'm acutely conscious of plastic pollution. This global issue is worsening, with plastic production set to triple by 2050 and with plastic outweighing the number of fish by that date. Dunkley and Australia's beaches are iconic and part of who we are as Australians. I look forward to working with the minister for the environment to do what I can to make our beaches, natural reserves and biodiversity preserved for the longer term.

From helping community sport to investing in men's mental health, this government has its priorities right because we listen to our communities. Crucially, this investment by the Albanese Labor government in Dunkley means that residents can live, work, study, raise a family and retire in our beautiful community. I am a Dunkley local, along with Dave and Flynn and the two dogs. We walk and drive through the same streets as you. I have worked and volunteered in this community. I know what is important to this community. As the MP for Dunkley in the federal government, I am here to listen, learn and advocate for you, the people of Dunkley, because you are my people. I will serve this community with authenticity and work diligently every day with integrity, kindness and respect. I will be your strong local voice in the big house on the hill in Canberra and deliver for Dunkley. Thank you, Dunkley, for the privilege to represent you.

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