Leon Rebello (McPherson, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to support this motion and to recognise the extraordinary role that neighbourhood and community centres play, not just in times of crisis but every single day in communities like mine on the southern Gold Coast. These centres are often the quiet backbone of our communities. They're where people turn when life becomes overwhelming, when they need food on the table, support for their mental health, help navigating services or simply a place where someone will listen.

On the southern Gold Coast, we're fortunate to have a network of dedicated community organisations and neighbourhood centres that step in where other services simply don't reach. From Palm Beach Neighbourhood Centre to the Varsity Lakes Community Resource Centre, these centres are often the first and sometimes the only point of contact for vulnerable Australians, and their importance becomes even more evident in times of disaster. On the Gold Coast, during ex-tropical-cyclone Alfred, we saw firsthand just how vital these community centres and organisations are. While the winds were still howling, rain was falling and power was out for days, community centres opened their doors. They became safe havens, coordination points and lifelines. They distributed supplies, checked in on isolated residents and provided real-time information when people needed it most. Importantly, they offered reassurance—a human connection at a time of uncertainty and fear.

But, despite all this, many of these centres are operating under immense strain. They're underfunded and overstretched, and they're often forced to rely on short-term competitive grants just to keep their doors open. What we're seeing now is that we are left hanging when it comes to whether this government will fund the Stronger Communities Program that these community centres and neighbourhood centres often rely on and benefit from. We can't expect organisations that provide essential frontline support to operate in a constant state of uncertainty, never knowing if they'll have the resources to continue to do their work six months down the track. The staff and the volunteers who power these centres deserve better. They're people who go above and beyond every day. They work tirelessly, often with limited resources, driven not by profit but by a deep commitment to their communities. On the southern Gold Coast, I've seen this dedication firsthand, meeting with volunteers who give their time to supporting others.

Investing in community centres is not just the right thing to do; it's the smart thing to do. When government supports these centres, we strengthen our communities, we reduce pressure on other services, and we ensure that there's help that's available early before problems escalate to a crisis. This motion rightly acknowledges the indispensable role of neighbourhood and community centres. It highlights the challenges they face, and it calls for the long-term support that they so clearly need. I commend the member for Lyne for bringing this motion forward, and I encourage the government to listen and support it.

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