I thank the member for Dickson for bringing forward this motion. Whilst I'm here and he's still here, I thank the member for Robertson for the work he continues to do in the medical field on the Central Coast in his electorate. I acknowledge, too, the role the member for Macarthur has played over many decades in his part of the world and the advocacy he does—they both do—for health in this parliament. Also, whilst I'm being very bipartisan, I want to acknowledge the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, the member for Dobell, perhaps in the context of the words I'm about to say: 'regional health'. Each time she comes to Wagga Wagga, my home town, she makes sure that I'm aware and allows me to be with her for those important discussions. I'm very appreciative of the investment—continuing on from the former coalition government—that she has advocated for and delivered, particularly in Wagga Wagga—certainly in the space of mental health.

When it comes to women's health, Wagga Wagga is fortunate to have the services of the Wagga Women's Health Centre. It was established in the 1970s, when women were finding it very difficult to have the contraceptive pill prescribed. The women responded by setting up their own centre. Certainly, in recent years, from its Peter Street premises, and before that, from opposite the civic centre and council chambers in Morrow Street, it has provided important work for and on behalf of local women—and not just women in the regional city that is Wagga Wagga but, indeed, women in the wider area.

Recently the Wagga Women's Health Centre had its funding for domestic violence cut, and this was a huge body blow to them. I know the work that Jan Roberts did in making sure the women's health centre gained the recognition it needed. In more recent years, Vickie Burkinshaw and Johanna Elms have certainly continued Jan's legacy. But 70 per cent of police call-outs in the Riverina are for domestic and family violence related issues, and that is simply not good enough. We are in a situation at the moment where we're trying to lower the temperature. I know some people have problems with that. I do not, in fact. But we do need to acknowledge that there is a problem, and, generally speaking, that problem is with men. It is; let's call it as it is.

The Wagga Women's Health Centre does a remarkable job in providing a face-to-face service for women in domestic violence situations. It finds women the housing, and this is health related because, if the matriarch of the home has no safe place to live, then that affects not just her but, indeed, the whole family. Certainly the children in these cases are often affected. Thankfully, the primary health network came to the assistance of the Wagga Women's Health Centre, and I know the state government did as well, but more needs to be done to ensure the ongoing funding. It's not good enough that the Wagga Women's Health Centre has to constantly bring out the begging bowl and justify why it needs ongoing recurrent funding. It should be provided. Quite frankly, it should be provided by all levels of government for the valuable work it does.

When this funding was cut in 2025, I know that Cecilia O'Rourke came from Junee with her daughter and granddaughter to support the organisation. She said: 'If they take the money away, it will not be just a few women left hanging, but it will be generations that are the reason today we come with my daughter and my granddaughter because it's a generational issue. It's important that people realise that domestic violence doesn't respect money, nationality, education, nothing, and I think that it's an issue that needs to be addressed constantly.' Ms O'Rourke is a retired mental health worker. She knows, because she has seen it all before. We need to provide that funding. If there is a women's health issue in Wagga Wagga that does require addressing, it is the ongoing funding for this important organisation.