Simon Kennedy (Cook, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

First, I would like to pay tribute to Marie Simone, Lisa Black and the whole Sutherland Shire hospital fundraising team. Through Marie's leadership and generosity, they recently raised over $56,000 at a fantastic fundraiser I attended. The funds will go directly towards expanding Sutherland Shire's cancer centre. I thank Marie and everyone involved for what they're doing for our local community and our local hospital. But, while our community is stepping up, the same cannot be said for the federal government.

According to new figures just released by the department of health, Cook recorded the largest fall in GP bulk-billing rates anywhere in New South Wales. I'll repeat that. My electorate of Cook had the largest fall of bulk-billing rates anywhere in New South Wales, down 18.8 per cent since 2022. The Sutherland Shire has almost a quarter of a million residents, yet we have no Commonwealth funded urgent care clinics, and we only have two bulk-billing GP clinics in the entire Sutherland Shire to service 250,000 people. When families in my electorate are told they would pay less to see a doctor, it is simply not true. They're reaching for their credit cards just to access basic care, and it's going up. It shouldn't take a charity or a fundraiser to keep local health services strong in the Sutherland Shire, but thank goodness for Marie Simone and her generosity, because it stands in stark contrast to a government that's failing the Sutherland Shire or wilfully overlooking it.

The same spirit of contribution was on full display recently at Gunnamatta Park on National Tree Day. I joined local volunteers who planted over 400 native trees and shrubs, helping restore one of the Sutherland Shire's most beautiful spaces. It was inspiring to see families, students and retirees all working side by side. Bushcare is a grassroots environmental stewardship organisation—just ordinary people, local residents, rolling up their sleeves to create something lasting. Every tree planted that morning helped us achieve a healthier Sutherland Shire for the next generation.

Another success story from my local community comes from Taren Point—the New Era Group, a homegrown business that has achieved national recognition. At the 2025 National Electrical and Communications Association excellence awards, the New Era Group won the Industrial Large Project of the Year for their outstanding work on the Parramatta light rail stabling yard. Congratulations to them. This project involved designing and installing and commissioning complex electrical and data systems that underpin the entire operation of the light rail network—the kind of quiet excellence that makes major infrastructure possible. To be judged the best in Australia is a remarkable achievement and a reflection of the skill and dedication of their local team. I congratulate them for flying the flag of Cook and for the strength of the Sutherland Shire's trades and small business community. Well done.

Finally, I would like to draw the House's attention to an issue of national conscience. The Ramsgate-Rockdale RSL sub-branch, with the support of RSL New South Wales, has written to me. They are looking to secure the recognition of approximately 2½ thousand national servicemen who served in Vietnam. These men did not volunteer. They were called upon by their government, by their country. They left behind families and careers. They served their country with courage and distinction. Yet many were never awarded the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal because of a technicality. They fell just short of the 181-day service requirement and were never awarded this medal. I call on the government to fix this travesty. These men faced the same dangers, endured the same hardships and put their lives at risk for their country, for their families and for the betterment of our society. This is about fairness and good faith. I call on the government to exercise its discretion, which it can. Justice demands it, and there is precedent for doing so. Award these men and women the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. They deserve that much.