Matt Keogh (Burt, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) | Hansard source

It's great to see wonderful WA representation across all sides of the chamber this morning. A future made in Australia means better jobs for our community, using our resources, knowledge and innovation to make more things here and back skilled Aussie workers. My community of Burt is home to some incredible workers and businesses making and developing things from Kenwick down to Byford.

Recently I visited some to see their great work, often hidden away, happening right in the heart of our community. There are companies like AG Trusses in Armadale, who are taking the need to build more houses and making them a reality, turning WA timber into housing frames that can be up within a day. Then there are the industries that keep Australia moving, like Specialised Tyre & Wheel, who manufacture agricultural and off-highway vehicle wheels, and those that grow our resources sector, like metallurgical lab Nagrom, who are world leading in lithium testing. Backing agriculture, construction and Australian industry is why the Albanese Labor government launched the largest pro-manufacturing package ever, our Future Made in Australia policy, to see more industries like this.

Nearly 10 years ago, I was elected to represent our community of Burt. Since day dot, I've been fighting for the infrastructure funding our community needs and deserves. For too long our community's population was exploding but the infrastructure it needed simply was not keeping up. Just think about Armadale Road. In 2016, a decade ago, when the seat of Burt was first formed, Armadale Road was nothing more than a pothole riddled, congested single-lane carriageway. Now it's been duplicated and has a bridge at the freeway, which has made the journeys of thousands of people in our community faster and safer.

We're continuing to build a better Burt. We're upgrading and extending Tonkin Highway. Just recently, the first section of the new underpass structure was installed. This is the first of seven units that will form the underpasses that will support the future road network. The contract has also been awarded to widen Tonkin Highway to six lanes, delivering new grade-separated interchanges at Welshpool Road and Hale Road. That will mean a new path for pedestrians and cyclists as well as safer and faster journeys on the road.

But it's not just about roads; it's about supporting our community to grow and thrive. The Armadale central park development is now underway. Known as Karlup Journey Place, it'll bring with it a more vibrant and welcoming town centre to Armadale. With this project, we're investing in the places our community lives, works and learns. It'll be a wonderful new space, connecting the new Armadale train station with shops, cafes, Armadale TAFE and the Armadale University Study Hub that was opened earlier this year.

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