Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is the final week of parliament for the year, and, as summer approaches, I know that many people in Melbourne and, of course, right around the country are going to be buying presents, attending events, organising parties for their colleagues or eating out with family and friends. I say to everyone here, not just in Melbourne but right around the country: if you are spending money, why not spend it in a way that does some good?

Melbourne is leading the way when it comes to social innovation, and there are great social enterprises around my electorate where the proceeds from your purchases will go to community, social and environmental causes. If you are organising a meal or event in your workplace, why not go to one of Melbourne's great social enterprise venues, like Lentil as Anything, in Abbotsford; Charcoal Lane, in Fitzroy; Kinfolk, in Melbourne; or Feast of Merit, in Richmond?

If you are buying gifts, you could try clothes from HoMie, in Fitzroy, or Hosier Hoodies, in Melbourne's CBD. Handcrafts, jewellery and accessories can all be bought from SisterWorks, in Richmond, or Body Safety Australia, in Cremorne, or you can get other experiences like a gift membership of the Collingwood Toy Library, based at Victoria Park; tickets to events at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, featuring great organisations like Yume, Urban Seed or the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation; or classes at the School of Life in Melbourne.

All of these social enterprises are supporters of the Good Xmas Trail, which works to share great ideas for our end-of-year spending that contribute to causes that make a difference. If you go to www.goodxmastrail.org to find details for these organisations, you will see how you can spend your money this Christmas to do good.