House debates
Monday, 1 September 2025
Bills
Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026, Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026; Second Reading
7:26 pm
Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Small Business) Share this | Hansard source
Every community needs essential services to help residents live successful lives. The Glen Eira Adult Learning Centre, or GEALC, supports the education needs of many older and new Australians in relation to digital exclusion, adult education and workforce readiness, particularly those re-entering the workforce. Prior to the election, the Labor Party made a commitment to fund GEALC with $60,000 to support the expansion of digital literacy programs and the upgrading of learning spaces at GEALC's Glen Eira campus. A few weeks ago, I wrote to the minister and the Treasurer asking for the funding commitment to GEALC to be honoured. Labor won the election, so it is now time for the government to fund GEALC so Philippa and her wonderful team can get on with the job. Minister and Treasurer, it is time to deliver on your promise. This funding will provide essential services and enable digital literacy services for older and new Australians and those seeking to re-enter the workforce. Don't be known for empty promises and leaving vulnerable Australians behind. I seek leave to table copies of the letters sent to the minister and the Treasurer and the social media post by the Labor Party announcing the funding commitment during the election.
Leave not granted.
Bayside, Glen Eira and Kingston residents should have decent infrastructure. Labor ripped $100 million from our community, and we are still living with the consequences. The Peterson Street Reserve sports ground in Highett has been waiting years for an upgrade. It doesn't have modern facilities, particularly for women's sport. At the 2022 and 2025 elections, we committed funding. Earlier this year we committed $3 million to build the facilities that the Highett community needs for the 21st century so it could have modern facilities for the Highett West Cricket Club, the Hampton Hammers Football Netball Club and the East Sandringham Junior Football Club. Bayside is ready; if the federal government helped, it would mean Highett would get the facilities it needs and wouldn't be left behind. Take action and sign the petition at timwilsonmp.com.au.
I note some MPs are questioning Australia's commitment to net zero. As you will know, I have a long-term interest in this important area and know delivering long-term emissions reduction depends on trust. Nothing will corrode that trust more than price increases and outages, which takes us to the teals. They were elected on a platform of explicit trust and integrity in politics, so it is fair to hold them to account on this standard. So, when the member for Warringah was elected on the basis of climate action and reducing fossil fuel subsidies but then voted for $2 billion of new coal and gas subsidies, it was a direct betrayal of their commitment to integrity in public office. They have tried to sweep it under the carpet, hoping no-one would notice. When one teal MP was asked why they broke this trust, they first said it was 'misinformation' before begging forgiveness, saying that they would have had strips torn off them rightly if they voted against it. If you get elected on a platform of climate action and then you vote for $2 billion in new coal and gas subsidies, I'm sorry but you have no integrity.
Bayside, Glen Eira and Kingston residents should have decent infrastructure. After Labor ripped $100 million out of our community, we are still living with the consequences. The Brighton Beach Oval Pavilion on South Road has been waiting years for an upgrade. It doesn't have facilities for women's footy or cricket. Before the election we committed $2 million to bring the ovals into the 21st century so they could have modern facilities, including change rooms for women's football and cricket at clubs like Old Brighton Grammarians Football Club and Brighton Cricket Club. Bayside is ready. If the federal government helped, it would mean women got the facilities they needed and wouldn't be left behind. Take action and sign the petition at timwilsonmp.com.au.
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