Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

'Here if you need'—that should be the motto of the Monash electorate, and it was certainly a call that was put out loud and clear at the recent launch of the Warragul and District Netball Association's summer competition. I was so pleased to be able to launch it recently with Karen Romano, the president; Meaghan Romano, who runs the NetSetGo program for young up-and-coming players; and the whole committee, who do such a fantastic job of encouraging players of all abilities and from areas across west Gippsland to get involved. There were about a thousand players on that launch evening—70 umpires, who do a terrific job, and around 150 teams. Over the 57-year history of the club, they've never seen more interest or more enthusiasm, and I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Warragul and District Netball Association on an amazing launch.

I also want to congratulate and encourage the tremendous work that community kitchens and food banks do across the Monash electorate. I volunteer from time to time at Frankies Community Kitchen, which is such a great initiative, led by a number of people, including Luke Hagel, who is an accomplished chef in his own right. I cracked a few hundred eggs on my last shift, but there's good company and good tunes played in that kitchen, and an amazing team of volunteers. From Longwarry to Warragul to Corinella, all of the community food banks do such a good job. I know the demand for your services is going up and up, and I want to commend the incredible work that you do.

I also had the shadow minister for health and aged care, Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston, in Warragul recently to do a number of visits. We had an aged-care forum. We went to Trafalgar Football Netball Club to look at their change rooms and also met with local government. Aged care is an incredibly important issue in my electorate of Monash, and I will stand by older Australians, their families and carers to make sure that choice and respect is at the heart of every decision they're able to make.

West Gippsland recently had its first Diwali celebration. I still have the henna tattoo to prove that I was there. It was a wonderful celebration. I want to commend the local Indian community across the Monash electorate, from West Gippsland through to the Bass Coast Malayalee Association. Thank you for all that you bring to our community. Diwali was a vibrant and joyous occasion that I was deeply honoured to be invited to participate in.

I also want to talk about the terrible impost of the illegal tobacco trade. We need to be much stronger on the front foot— (Time expired)

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