Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Skills and Training) Share this | Hansard source

On 3 May the opposition sought to harness pessimism and cynicism in a path to power that was without purpose. But people in the Scullin electorate saw through this, as did Australians right around our country. They recognised the leadership of our prime minister—his record, his character—and our plans to bring out the very best for our nation and every one of its citizens. They noticed that Labor listened, and not just to the loudest voices. They noticed that we understood the need to both keep responding to urgent cost-of-living pressures in the short term and offer hope for the future beyond that. They noticed that we were serious about the challenges holding back Australians doing it tough and about realising those wonderful opportunities that lie before us. They noticed that we had prepared a policy agenda anchored in this appreciation—policies fit for purpose for the needs of Australians now and as we look to the future.

I begin my contribution by thanking the voters of the Scullin electorate for again placing their trust in me and in the Albanese Labor government. It is an incredible honour to have been elected for a fifth time, and of course, more importantly, there is the responsibility and obligation to represent, advocate for, contribute to and deliver for the people of the Scullin electorate. This is my focus as a very proud member of our re-elected Albanese Labor government—a government whose ethos of leaving no-one behind and holding no-one back resonated so strongly from the very start with the people of Scullin across its length and breadth, in all its wonderful diversity.

I recognise in saying that that I now have the privilege of representing a number of communities which are new to the electorate: parts of Campbellfield, more of Wollert and a little slice of Fawkner. So I was particularly pleased to form relationships and begin an understanding of those communities, which I look forward to representing in this, the 48th Parliament. But, of course, I'm proud to represent all of the communities across Scullin and the people who make them such wonderful places.

After almost a decade of serving in this place in opposition, the opportunity to serve from the government benches after the 2022 election enabled me to advocate for and deliver on a number of local wins that I'm particularly proud of, even if in some cases people waited too long for those wins to be realised. I think about the $2 million in funding our government delivered for the Peter Hopper Lake in Mill Park after strong advocacy from local residents for some time. A big shout-out to everyone involved in Friends of Peter Hopper Lake for their enduring advocacy. I can now see the funding being put to work to improve the quality of the environment of the lake, with stage 2 works now well underway and expected to be nearing completion by the end of the year.

Another set of funding that's made a big difference has been the Schools Upgrade Fund. Three schools in my electorate have benefited from funding through this program: Norris Bank Primary School in Bundoora for new playground equipment, playing equipment and shade sails; Findon Primary School in Mill Park for much-needed refurbishment of student toilets—the images that the students sent to me of the need for this really resonated with me, and I was so pleased to be able, thanks to the great work of Minister Clare, to deliver on their request; and Merriang Special Developmental School for upgrades to their inclusive play space at their South Morang campus.

The Scullin electorate is a diverse place, and across the multicultural communities there is a common desire to maintain connection to culture and to language. Our government recognises this, and, to help ensure communities can continue to do this work, we've supported nine community language schools through grants to strengthen social inclusion and an ongoing connection to language, which is so vital.

One of the issues that have been raised constantly with me in my time in this place is the importance of access to health care, and I am so thrilled about the Epping urgent care centre and the impact it is making every single day. The clinic has now seen more than 13,000 visits since it opened, and I wish a happy birthday, on Monday, to everyone involved at the Epping urgent care clinic. Obviously, I won't be there, but I'll be thinking of the incredible staff for the impact they have there in the urgent care clinic itself and, of course, in the women's health specialist services that are offered there as well. I think about those people who've faced some unexpected moments and needed access to a nurse or doctor for themselves or for their children. The clinic receives 37 visits a day, with doctors and nurses working hard to keep our community healthy. This is not only access to local urgent care but access to free health care when people need it.

Another thing that really brings me great joy is the progress towards the opening of the Epping study hub, which will provide student support and campus-style facilities and bring university and TAFE closer to home and closer together, because we know that where you live can be a barrier to continuing an educational journey. That's why we've delivered these hubs. The one in Epping is paired with the one in Broadmeadows—and a shout-out to my good friend the new and excellent member for Calwell, Basem Abdo. I've really enjoyed sharing your journey through a difficult campaign in which you revealed many of your qualities and just a hint of the capacity you're going to bring to this place as a wonderful advocate for your communities and a contributor to the work of government. These hubs will support local TAFE and university students to attain their qualifications, but they will also inspire the next generation, as high school students can see, feel and touch that next step in their journey.

I'm also really proud to be part of a government that's delivering a $4.5 million investment to revitalise the Nick Ascenzo Reserve in Thomastown. The funding is going towards a new multipurpose sports court, a scooter and BMX loop and upgrades to the existing playground. I've been speaking to local residents and also parents from Thomastown East Primary School, just over the road, who expressed their optimism for the suburb and what this investment means for them, for their families and for a more cohesive, more active and more connected community. I'm really looking forward to seeing this come through and, of course, to some other really critical initiatives. There are just two I want to highlight: the facility upgrades at the offices of the Board of Imams Victoria in Thomastown, as well as a really important upgrade supporting the incredible work of Turbans 4 Australia. The work that's being led and the way in which it's being led by my friend Amar Singh is truly wonderful. That's right around the country but, most importantly, in Melbourne's northern suburbs.

I want to briefly touch on some of the privileges I've had in the current and over the former parliament, particularly in the roles that I've served in thanks to the Prime Minister—firstly, as then minister for immigration, citizenship and multicultural affairs. As then minister for immigration and as current minister for skills and training I've had an extraordinary opportunity to change lives and change our country. I want to briefly reflect on that.

To carry out, in the first instance, our government's commitments to replace cruelty for cruelty's sake with policies that were fit for purpose and consistent with who we are as a multicultural nation that has really been built by immigration was extraordinary. In that, I want to recognise the work, in the lead-up to the last election, of my friend Kristina Keneally—the work that she did as the shadow minister for home affairs and the work that I was able to continue, together with my friend Minister O'Neil. I think about, in particular, with Kristina in mind, the decision made within weeks of coming to government to finally enable the return of the Nadesalingam family to their home in Biloela. This was a really important moment for our country as the nation and, indeed, the Biloela community came together. It's wonderful that Nades, Priya, Kopika and Tharnicaa are continuing to build their lives and build their contribution to our country in their home with certainty.

Another thing that really mattered that I think I was able to play a small part in was ending some unfair restrictions on residency pathways for temporary skilled workers and, of course, thousands of recognised refugees—20,000 of whom are now permanent in their connection to Australia and, again, able to make their contributions after a decade of waste of potential, of waste of their lives and of cruelty for cruelty's own sake. I was also able to see changes to citizenship, dealing with backlogs and enabling more people to become full members of our community and fully realise their contribution. I was pleased to be able to work with unions and workers to make reforms ending the exploitation of migrant workers, benefiting all Australian workers, and to be part of work led by Minister O'Neil on a migration strategy, building a migration system that is fit for our national purpose, not something that is neglected, as was the case for a decade.

It was a pleasure to be part of the work which led to the Multicultural Framework Review, the first look at our multicultural framework at a national level in 50 years, building on the great legacy of Al Grassby and so many others, giving voice to so many people across the length and breadth of our nation—people very new to our country and people here for generations—and thinking of building that culture of respect and belonging that not only really makes us a great nation today but enables us to imagine how good we can be with every single voice properly heard. I want to extend my appreciation to the panel members there—Hass Dellal, Nyadol Nyuon and Christine Castley—for the extraordinary work they did in enabling so many people to be heard who would not otherwise have been heard in this place. I'm so pleased to see the incredible work of my friend Minister Anne Aly building on this legacy in our own inimitable fashion.

In my current portfolio I continue to witness how decisions that we make in national government can change people's lives for the better and change our communities and change our country. It makes me so proud—thanks to your vote and the member for Makin's vote, in particular—that free TAFE is now permanent, opening more doors for more people that would have otherwise stayed shut. Australians are now gaining skills they want for jobs we need, because we value TAFE.

I think about the National Skills Agreement and the partnerships that enables between this government, every state and territory, business, First Nations community controlled organisations, workers and union so that we can work together to achieve our national purposes, to make sure that everyone can unlock their potential—wherever they may be, whatever their circumstances. They're accessing skills and training that will enable them to realise their ambitions so that we can do a better job at connecting their ambitions to our national aspirations so people can make contributions in fulfilling their potential.

Some of the announcements we made at the last election take this to the next level. I think about the Advanced Entry Trades Training commitment, which recognises that there are thousands of Australians who have experience but no formal qualifications. We can do better to recognise them and enable them to work to their potential. I think about the Key Apprenticeship Program, which has been hugely successful already in clean energy and now in housing and is already opening up more doors for more people to undertake apprenticeships—a pathway to a good job and to a real contribution.

I want to take this opportunity to recognise the extraordinary people who have worked within my office throughout my time as minister. I think about Jesse Northfield. I could not have had a better chief of staff—or the opportunity, frankly, to work with a better human being—and he was so well supported by the brilliant Alice Smith. To work with people like Lori Faraone, Henry Sherrell, Zoe Ranganathan, Kun Huang, Ben Wicks, Roman Ristovski, Laura Matheson, Justine Evesson, Emilia Hutchinson, Madison Child and Ash Grimwood has been a real privilege—seeing so many people so dedicated to making the most of the opportunities that government presents to make a contribution.

I'm also incredibly proud of the work done by the team in the Scullin electorate office. I think all of us in this place know that we are nothing without the teams we work with and the extraordinary kindness, professionalism and dedication they show to solving the problems in peoples lives—often problems that seem insuperable to individuals but can be solved by the great work of our electorate office team. I acknowledge everyone's EO staff but particularly mine. My deepest thanks go to Sally, Khadija, Maureen, Monika, Steph, Cat, Amelia, Sam and Hamish. Day in, day out they are working hard to support community members, and I think particularly of the work they did to support members of our wonderful Palestinian community at such awful times.

I also want to say this. For much of the last term, my electorate office had to be shut due to a number of security incidents. I strongly support the right to peaceful protest; it is a cornerstone of a democratic society. So too are the right of a worker to be safe at work and the right of a citizen to engage with their democratically elected representative. The Scullin electorate office staff were subjected to circumstances no worker should have to endure: physical threats and the denial of access to someone's workplace. This cannot be part of our politics. It cannot.

I was pleased to be here for the contribution of the member for Isaacs, which highlighted a number of other concerning incidents which I do think, collectively, we need to look at as we think about a politics that is fit for the Australian people. There can be no place for violence and intimidation overshadowing the work of democratic representatives, the engagement of anyone in the political process and of course the fundamental need of any Australian to access government services, including through their local federal parliamentarian's electorate office. The campaign in the Scullin electorate was not particularly shadowed by some of the incidents that the member for Isaacs touched upon, but still I think there are things we should reflect on—in particular, the conduct of a range of organisations at early-voting centres, which I am concerned about and which I hope the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters will look into—so that every member of the community feels safe and welcome when casting their secret ballot.

I do want to acknowledge the other candidates who contested the election and thank them for their engagement. Obviously we all reflect different world views, but our ability to talk to one another, particularly on the campaign trail, is something that is precious and a critical part of our democracy. I want to recognise the incredible work of the many volunteers who really were the Scullin campaign—the people who walked with me as I doorknocked hundreds of houses, who made phone calls, who stood with me at train stations and who really lent their understanding, passion and selfless commitment, asking for nothing other than to contribute to their vision of a fairer and better society, expressed through the election of an Albanese government.

Any campaign cannot be run without volunteers. I'm so proud of the volunteers that I got to work with. Thank you to each and every one of you. I can't thank everyone, but there are a few I want to recognise particularly: my good friend Emeline Gaske and all the numbers of the Australian Services Union; the extraordinary Joe Petrucci, a man for all seasons and a person of so many qualities; Amar and Chaman Tiwari, extraordinary people who seem to have more hours in the day than I think are possible based on my understanding of maths; Succetin and Perihan Unal, two absolute pillars of the Turkish community, the northern suburbs and the Labor Party, and two dear friends—to them and their family, I will always be more grateful than I can say—and the irrepressible Monique Lobosco, who has done incredible things and will do more incredible things. Thanks to Ramy Aljalil, who is a wonderful young man with so many qualities. Thanks to Tori Edge, who showed me right around the length and breadth of Wollert, and showed me her passion for the work that she's done as an early childhood educator and now does in her current employment at the United Workers Union. Thanks to the wonderful Nessie Sayer.

The last person I want to touch upon is Monika Janinki. Monica was an extraordinary person, and I feel so grateful to have met her and spent a lot of time with her, talking about her passion for the world, particularly for animal rights as well as for a more just society. To spend time with her, I was excited by what was going to come. She talked about new study opportunities, including in the law. Monica is not with us. I think of her standing here and am filled with an immense sadness for all those who loved her and for all those around her who were unable to see her recognising herself. What an extraordinary person she was, and what an extraordinary contribution she could have made. She did make extraordinary contributions, and the person that she was and everything that she stood for is something that will live on. Monika, I stand here thinking deeply of you, feeling so terribly sad at the extraordinary loss—the loss that most touches those dearest to you. I hope they can feel a sense, as I talk about Monika in this place, of the impact that she will always have through her character and her contributions. Vale, Monika.

I started this contribution by reflecting on the politics pessimism and cynicism. As I stand here, I remain deeply concerned about the rise of reactionary and authoritarian forms of populism here in Australia and around the world. I think about the awful circumstances in the Victorian high country right now—two police officers who lost their lives, the community terrified. I think about all the manifestations we have to think about that pose a threat to the physical safety of community members and, more broadly, how we are part of a global community. I recognise that in tough times it's always tempting to find easy answers to complex problems—or worse, to look to blame the other rather than seek to come together to take responsibility. This is about something more than the policy choices that legitimately separates us in this place. It goes to how we conduct ourselves and our political actions. I think we need to find ways to disagree better to reflect on the fact that, while there may be things that we disagree about, this is not necessarily a terrible thing. We need to find ways to ensure that every person is respected, not every idea. In this place, I will do my best to live up to that in this term of parliament, representing the wonderful people of the Scullin electorate.

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