Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

In May last year, I was proud to be re-elected again as the member for Blair in the Albanese Labor government. Since then the government has delivered on many of the commitments made in my electorate, including delivering the biggest-ever investment in bulk-billing and cheaper medicines, and cutting 20 per cent of student debt. In 2026 our work continues, and I'm focused on helping local families with cost-of-living relief and delivering on local commitments, which include much-needed transport and community infrastructure in our fast-growing region.

Having secured federal funding for several major projects in Ipswich and the Somerset region, I want to see the Queensland government progress the Amberley Interchange and the Ipswich to Springfield rail business case, as well as upgrades to the Mount Crosby Road Interchange, the Bremer River Bridge, the Brisbane Valley Highway and the Ipswich Motorway. Also, I'm focused on delivering on a number of local election commitments for my community, especially a new rugby league and sports centre in the Ripley Valley; extensions to the Ipswich Basketball Stadium and Fernvale Sports Park netball courts; expanding the Chuwar Koala and Native Fauna Conservation Park; a new headspace mental health centre in Redbank Plains; a new House of India community and cultural centre in Springfield; and upgrades to the Lowood pool and Springfield Central YMCA.

On top of these fully funded election commitments, there are three catalytic local initiatives I'm keen to seeing progressed in 2026. First, I'd like to see the Ipswich City Council apply for federal funding for stage 2 of the North Ipswich Reserve stadium redevelopment. Stage 1 is currently underway with $20 million of federal money, $10 million of state money and $10 million of local council money. The stage 2 redevelopment would incorporate a new high-performance centre, an administration block and an eastern grandstand. I call on the Ipswich City Council to do the right thing and apply for federal money in the new infrastructure program for that particular facility. Second, I'm engaging with Ipswich City Council and other stakeholders on options for a new synthetic running track and track-and-field complex for our community. I'd like to see Ipswich City Council end their internal divisions and develop a solution for this pressing need. I'd like to see a centre of excellence for athletics in Ipswich. This facility would meet a real need in terms of local sporting infrastructure in the lead-up to the 2032 games and beyond. Third, I'm supportive of Ipswich Hospice's plan for a new 30-bed palliative care facility at the University of Southern Queensland Ipswich campus. Fourth, I will support the Brisbane Lions' Brighton Homes Arena stage 2 upgrade. I'll continue to advocate for federal funding for these projects. There's a lot of work to do, and we're making good progress in our region.

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