Alison Byrnes (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Since being re-elected in May I've had the privilege of attending a wide range of events across my electorate. Each of these moments reflects the rich culture, strong community and innovative spirit that define the Illawarra.

I would like to wish a very happy 90th birthday to an incredibly inspiring woman, Dr Aunty Barbara Nicholson. Earlier this month I had the pleasure of celebrating this milestone with Aunty Barb and many others whose lives have been touched by her extraordinary work. Aunty Barb is a proud Wadi Wadi elder whose lifelong dedication to education, storytelling and justice has left a lasting impact on the Illawarra and far beyond. She spent decades teaching at the University of Wollongong, sharing her deep knowledge of history, culture and law with generations of students. Through the Black Wallaby Project, she has empowered Aboriginal men and women in the justice system to express themselves through poetry and creative writing. This project has published over a dozen books, each filled with powerful and deeply personal work. It has earned national recognition, including a lifetime achievement award for First Nations literature.

Not only this, but Aunty Barb has been a fierce campaigner for justice for First Nations Australians. She has been the driving force behind Link-Up, reuniting and supporting those affected by Australia's forced removal policies. She has shown a true commitment to tackling the overrepresentation of Indigenous Australians in the criminal justice system. In 2014, Aunty Barb received an honorary doctorate from the University of Wollongong, and in 2024 she was named Wollongong's Citizen of the Year and was the first Indigenous person to receive this honour. Despite these accolades, she always remains humble and is always focused on how she can continue to uplift others. Aunty Barb teaches us that strength comes from service, that education is a powerful tool for change and that every story matters. A very happy 90th birthday, Aunty Barb, and thank you for everything that you've done and continue to do for our community.

I am so lucky to have the South Coast Portuguese Association in the Illawarra, who are celebrating 50 years of service to our region. For half a century this association has brought together generations of Portuguese Australians living in the Illawarra to honour their heritage, share their culture and support one another. They have created an incredible place where traditions are passed down, language is preserved and community truly feels like family. I was proud to arrange a signed certificate from the Prime Minister to mark this really important occasion and acknowledge the association's outstanding contribution to our region.

The Portuguese community has added so much to the Illawarra's multicultural identity, from the vibrant colours of traditional clothing to the incredible food, music, dancing and stories passed down through generations. This 50-year milestone is a testament to the dedication and generosity of countless volunteers, committee members and families who have kept the Portuguese culture alive. Among them are current president Jorge Ferreira, secretary Patricia Laranjeira and former president Joe Alves, who this year completed his 27th World's Greatest Shave and has collectively raised over $338,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation. To everyone involved, past and present, thank you for your dedication and contribution. Congratulations on a remarkable 50 years, and here's to many more.

Right now in Coniston, a local company is turning innovation into opportunity and showing what a future made in Australia really looks like. I was proud to join the team at Gravitas Technologies in July to officially turn the first sod on their new facility right in the heart of the Illawarra. Gravitas is at the cutting edge of critical minerals processing. Their team has created an incredibly innovative material called Vulloy that's built to perform in extreme heat and tough environments. It has real potential in industries like defence, aerospace and green steel.

The Albanese Labor government has supported Gravitas with $1.5 million under the Industry Growth Program to build a facility that will help boost our sovereign capability, strengthen supply chains and create highly skilled local jobs. This is what the Future Made in Australia agenda is all about: backing Australian ideas, investing in regional jobs and putting local manufacturing back on the map. I want to congratulate Sam, Charlie, Shane, Danny and the entire Gravitas team for the incredible work that they've put in to reach this point. They're building more than just a facility; they're helping to build the future of advanced manufacturing in this country.