Kara Cook (Bonner, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is hard to believe that it's been six months since the election, six months since the people of Bonner put their trust in me and six months since the Albanese Labor government was returned to continue building a stronger, fairer and more secure Australia—and what a wonderful six months it has been. In that short time we have achieved a great deal together across our community and, of course, across the nation.

Locally in Bonner we've been out every single day, listening, helping and delivering. We held our first-ever Bonner Seniors Expo. Nearly 1,000 seniors came through the doors to connect, learn and celebrate the vital contribution of older Australians. I've also visited 21 schools in the last six months, meeting students, teachers and parents who are passionate about their futures. My office has also supported over 1,500 residents, helping locals to navigate the NDIS, aged care and secure housing and to understand government services. We've hosted mobile offices each and every month to bring government to the people, not the other way round—because that is what being a strong local voice looks like.

From Carina to Carindale, Wynnum to Wishart, and Murarrie to Mansfield, we've supported 23 community and sporting clubs with almost $60,000 in volunteer grants, helping groups like the Mt Gravatt Bowls Club, Bayside BMX and the Rochedale Community Garden continue the work that brings our community together. We've also backed another seven local organisations with over $71,000 in funding through the Stronger Communities Program, delivering for groups like BABI Youth and Family Services, Mackenzie State Special School and Wynnum Manly Seagulls. That's what Labor investment looks like—practical, local and life changing.

Nationally this government has hit the ground running. We made a promise to the Australian people to keep focused, to stay the course and to keep building a better future, and we're delivering. We've delivered on making health care cheaper by strengthening Medicare. We're delivering on helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn. We're delivering real cost-of-living relief—not slogans but action. We're building a future made in Australia, supporting good jobs and clean energy industries that will power us forward.

We promised that the very first thing we would do would be to cut student debt by 20 per cent, and that's exactly what we did. That's 21,000 people in Bonner who now have less student debt hanging over them and over three million Australians nationwide saving an average of $5½ thousand. We said we would strengthen Medicare and we've done that too. Just this weekend, we tripled the bulk-billing incentive, the largest investment in Medicare in its history. That means more Australians can see a GP for free just by showing their Medicare card, not their credit card. It means families won't have to choose between paying for groceries and seeing a doctor. In Bonner alone, 11 clinics have already signed on to this new incentive, with more on the way. That is what Labor's commitment to fairness looks like.

We're boosting housing security and helping more Australians into their first home. Through our Home Guarantee Scheme we've made it possible for people to buy a home with just a five per cent deposit. Already 391 people in Bonner have done exactly that. We are just six months in and we're not stopping there. There is still more to come in Bonner. We're going to see the Medicare urgent care clinic opening at Carindale in the coming months, $1.5 million to support OzFish expand reef restoration and protect our precious marine environment, $500,000 for the Wynnum-Manly men's shed for a new shed and $1 million for new lights at the Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club, giving local families and players the chance to enjoy evening games and community life under the lights.

This is only the beginning. The people of Bonner sent me here to work hard to deliver and to keep their voices strong in this parliament. That's exactly what I will continue to do every day for every person in every corner of our community. That's exactly what the Albanese Labor government will also continue to do right across our nation. We're off to a flying start. We're only six months in and we're just getting started.

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