Anika Wells (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Sport) Share this | Hansard source

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we gather today, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, and recognise the First Nations communities that call my very own electorate home, the Turrbal and Jagera people. Modern Australia stands on the shoulders of 1,600 generations of Indigenous history, culture and knowledge, and we are always lucky to be able to listen and learn from our First Australians.

I rise today, re-elected by the locals of Lilley, with the privilege and responsibility of representing my northside community for another term in this amazing place. I want to thank the people of Lilley for once again placing their trust in me. I'm grateful for the opportunity to ensure all local voices and concerns are heard, whether they voted for me or not.

The 48th Parliament is unique—unique in that it now looks more like Australia than it ever has. I'm beyond proud to see our government representing Australians from all walks of life. The decisions of this parliament will shape our country for generations to come. It's especially encouraging to see young Australians gaining a foothold in both houses. From our newest gen Z representatives to our growing millennial contingent, which number more than 20 per cent in the House, our community now recognises itself more on the benches of parliament. When I gave my first speech in July 2019, millennials were less than 10 per cent. I'm so proud that has now doubled to more than 20 per cent.

Like all of my colleagues who serve in this place, we do so at the behest of our constituents. But none of us could fulfill our role without the support and sacrifice of our families. Celeste, Ossian and Dashiell: no matter what happens here in Canberra or around the country you are my greatest privilege. To our director of household operations, Finn: wherever I go, you stand beside me. Nothing is possible without you.

I also want to take the opportunity to acknowledge and thank my local Lilley campaign team, who worked tirelessly to support my re-election. Like all local members, I might be a tad biased, but I do think my local team is one of the very best. From our proud branch members to local volunteers, family friends, my staff and the wider labour movement I say thank you. It was a busy 12 months in Queensland on the campaign front. Balancing work commitments and life is hard enough as it is without electoral fate stacking consecutive campaigns on top of each other. It was tough. My team is tougher.

As usual, there are far too many people to list, but, if you'll indulge me, I want to take the chance to acknowledge a very special few: Warren and Kate Derrington, Graham Appleton, Christine and Megan O'Keeffe, Sofia and Bella Scattini, Cath Palmer, Faye Clark, Anne Marlay, and Kim and Wayne Swan. Running as a local member is just not possible on your own; it is truly a team sport. None of this is possible without the countless early mornings and sometimes very late nights. Throughout the campaign, my local colleagues were a constant source of love and support. Being able to lean on friendly faces and sound out local issues is more valuable than you can imagine. Thank you.

When I was elected in 2019, the federal electorate of Lilley was an island, the northernmost Labor-held seat in Queensland, located on the northern suburbs of Brisbane. On 3 May, I was very pleased to see this change, and change in a big way. We've now welcomed a host of friendly new neighbours—Emma Comer, the new member for Petrie; Ali France, the new member for Dickson; and Madonna Jarrett, the new member for Brisbane. I look forward to joining forces to deliver for our respective northside communities. In the Senate, I welcome my friend and colleague Corinne Mulholland, whose office is located right in the heart of my Lilley electorate. I know that Corinne will represent the people of Queensland with great enthusiasm and tireless energy. And, across the river, the ranks of our Brisbane Labor team swelled even further with the election of Rowan Holzberger, the new member for Forde; Renee Coffey, the new member for Griffith; Kara Cook, the new member for Bonner; and my dear friend Julie-Ann Campbell, the new member for Moreton. I was even happier to relinquish the northernmost electorate title to the member for Leichhardt, Matt Smith. I look forward to the new and expanded Queensland team kicking even more goals in the 48th Parliament than Queensland Broncos captain Adam Reynolds, now the second-highest goal scorer in NRL history, after fellow Queenslander Cam Smith.

Since the election, I have been out in our Lilley community at mobile offices, community events and, more recently, our own Lilley business roundtable. Northsiders are a rightfully parochial bunch. We know we live in the best part of Brisbane in the best country in the world: Queensland. Like the rest of the country, Lilley residents have been experiencing those same cost-of-living pressures that were fuelled by high inflation. What they've been telling me, as their local MP, is that the measures the Albanese government has taken to ease those cost-of-living pressures and tame the inflation beast are making a difference.

There are 23,694 Lilley residents who have just received 20 per cent off their HECS debt. My constituents have also saved another $11.8 million on cheaper medicines since we were first elected to government. There have been more than 20,000 visits to our Northside Medicare Urgent Care Clinic since it opened in December 2023, and just last week I visited the Kedron Medical Centre, which has just become a 100 per cent bulk-billing clinic. Their CEO told me that this is one of the first clinics in the ForHealth network to transition to 100 per cent bulk-billing, as a direct result of the Albanese government's $8 billion commitment to lifting bulk-billing rates nationwide. From 1 November, they expect seven in every 10 practices in their network to only bulk-bill patients, up from one in every 10 practices today. That is good news for Northsiders.

In more good news, I'm looking forward to getting back home to talk to people about our five per cent home deposits, which will now start on 1 October. Thirty per cent of Lilley residents are renters, which is much higher than both the Queensland and national statistics. This will help so many people in Lilley get into their own home sooner, cutting years off the time that it has been taking to save for a deposit, and they won't have to pay a single dollar in mortgage insurance. Their ability to service that mortgage will also be helped thanks to the seven consecutive quarters of growth in real wages under our government. Over the next three years, I look forward to delivering more cost-of-living relief for Lilley residents.

Alongside the privilege of being the local member, it has been an honour to serve in my role as Minister for Communications and Minister for Sport. Communications touch all Australians in one way or another. Whether it's keeping grandparents in Lilley connected with grandkids or ensuring those in remote Australia have access to fast and reliable broadband and good mobile coverage, I will never stop working to ensure Australians are connected. From Broome to Bendigo, from the Pilbara to Palm Island, Australians deserve to connect with confidence. It is critical that a country as vast as Australia prioritises connectivity regardless of postcode. That is my priority, and the Albanese government will continue delivering a better connected continent for all Australians.

Within the Sport portfolio, I am thrilled to be delivering for Australia's high-performance athletes, along with the next generation, through investment in better sport facilities throughout the country. On the pathway to Brisbane 2032, the Albanese government has announced a record $489 million for high-performance sport over the first two years of the Olympic and Paralympic cycle. This is the largest ever government investment in Olympic and Paralympic sports to help Australian athletes achieve success on the world stage. We are continuing to back our athletes at the elite and grassroots levels. That is why I am proud to be leading the delivery of the $200 million Play Our Way program, the largest ever sporting fund specifically for women and girls, which will help develop the next generation of athletes. We know there are too many women and girls who are changing in men's dressing rooms and playing on poor courts and fields. Through Play Our Way, almost 300 programs are being delivered throughout Australia. Everyone has a right to enjoy sport at every level, and this program helps get more women and girls taking part.

I am determined to be a good ancestor, and there's no better time than now, so let's take action, leave this place in better condition than we found it and build a future our kids can enjoy for generations to come. I thank the House.

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