Matt Smith (Leichhardt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Tomorrow I will be home in Leichardt. The sun will shine. The ocean will lap the sun-kissed palm-tree-lined beaches. The reef will still be great and the Daintree mighty. And I will walk the chihuahuas. Along my walk upon Trinity Beach, when I grab a coffee off Michael, I will inevitably be stopped by someone. They will say, 'Big Matty, how was Canberra?' And I will say, 'Cold.'

Then I will say: 'Mate, we have enshrined penalty rates. Beer is cheaper, as the excise is frozen. In 27 days, first home buyers will be able to buy with only a five per cent deposit. Food subsidies in remote communities for over 30 essential items are in train, bringing prices in line with the cities. The tax office is, as we speak, sorting out the necessary coding to ensure 17,000 people in Leichardt benefit from the 20 per cent reduction in HECS debts. Interest rates are on the way down. The 90th urgent care clinic has been opened, with another on its way for the far north. A total of 490 homes have been built at the old drive-in site at Woree. Medicine is cheaper. The Barron River bridge is being funded. Childcare centres are being opened in Napranum and Horn Island.'

I'll say, 'We helped Gunggandji Aerospace, the first wholly Indigenous owned aerospace company meet the people they needed to see in this place to explain their vision for young Indigenous people and the industry.' I'll say, 'We supported people with FASD, and I worked with Warren Entsch to learn about TB and how I could help in seeking to eradicate this disease that runs riot a mere 20 kilometres from my electorate.'

There is so much more, but I am practising this 90-second abridged version so tomorrow's walk doesn't take three hours, which would be a bit rough as the dogs have little legs. (Time expired)

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