Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I begin not with grievance but with inspiration, because today I had the pleasure of meeting Jamison Dustin, a bright year 12 student from the Chifley electorate, and his mum, Cheryl. Both of them sit behind me, but Cheryl in particular is rightly proud of her boy. Jamison was the award recipient of My First Speech with the Speaker. I want to read his speech into the chamber and basically seize every credit for all of his hard work in doing so. It showcases thoughtful young leaders we have in Western Sydney and the issues that they want to bring to light.

This is the speech that he has submitted to the Speaker: 'Mr Speaker, Australia's education system is failing its students, and the problem stretches beyond exams. When I say 'education', I'm not just referring to textbooks, curriculums and syllabi. Rather, I define education as the holistic development of individuals, something that I believe is often overlooked within Australian schools in exchange for a focus on academic achievement. And, whilst countries like Sweden integrate life readiness skills with strong academic standards, Australian NAPLAN results indicate that 33 per cent of students are not even meeting the baseline expectations in numeracy and literacy.

Whilst I acknowledge the importance of academics as a year 12 student, I'm currently surrounded by peers who are constantly stressed about the HSC, stressed about what ATAR they'll receive and stressed about failing to meet expectations. Mr Speaker, I believe that a student is more than their marks. This chamber cannot ignore the evident effects of failing to address educational development beyond teaching students maths and Shakespeare.

One such avenue for a better system is the implementation of a financial literacy program. Research from the University of Newcastle has found that "greater financial literacy leads to better life satisfaction". Moreover, ASIC reports that people experiencing financial challenges are twice as likely to be experiencing mental health challenges. However, despite calls from ASIC and other institutions, a financial literacy program is yet to be implemented across Aussie schools, meaning that the over 330,000 young Australians facing financial insecurity each year are exposed to the triple edged sword of an outdated, underperforming education system, a widespread cost-of-living crisis and growing rates of mental health issues. There are endless opportunities to better Australia's approach to holistic education; financial literacy programs are just the start. So, Mr Speaker, when will it be enough? Our system needs change, because today isn't good enough but together tomorrow's could be.' Well said, and I want to commend Jamison on that terrific speech.

Deputy Speaker Lawrence, I happened to receive a little book—treatise, no doubt—called Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia's Future written by George Williams, who occupies the role of vice-chancellor of my old uni, Western Sydney University. It's quite a read. In particular, what leapt out to me is:

Today, universities find themselves in the distressing position where their very social licence is in question.

It's a concerning quote at that.

Mr Williams has done a bit of a speaking tour. Once he's completed that, I wouldn't mind if he did a speaking tour of the Blacktown local government area, where he could explain to the folks of our region why he is closing the only campus in the Blacktown local government area. The University of Western Sydney was started under a former federal Labor government as a result of reforms by the Hawke Labor government, driven principally by the notion that, if you see it, you'll be it. We wanted to encourage more Western Sydney kids to be able to go to university.

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 12:44 to 12:56

In establishing those universities, particularly one in Western Sydney, it was important to send the signal that we wanted people to progress in terms of their obtainment of education skill. I'm proud to say I went to that university. It did open up an opportunity for me as the first in my family to go. In the mid-1990s, a person that I'm proud to call a friend and who was the member for Chifley before me, Roger Price, had championed the concept that, on soon to be vacated Royal Australia Navy land of HMAS Nirimba, we use the opportunity not to sell that land off but to put on one site public and private high schools, TAFE and a university so that we would then boost educational opportunity in that area.

The Western Sydney University now is looking to shut that campus down which is an absolute tragedy. It will mean it will take out, from one of the largest council areas in Western Sydney, the only university campus. What is extraordinary about that is that the university and vice-chancellor said to me the reason they are shutting it down is because it is a poor student experience. You would think that a university would devote itself to improving the university experience by investing in that area. Instead, to deal with the poor university and student experience, the university is removing its presence.

The Western Sydney University—I've watched this, and many others have noticed it—are centralising most of their facilities in what I and many others would describe as the eastern suburbs of Western Sydney, like Parramatta. They're not doing it to increase the number of Western Sydney students going to that university. They're doing it to try and get students from the east of the city, betraying the very reason the university was set up in the first place. It's unacceptable.

In the process of shutting that campus, they're also shutting the Western Sydney University childcare centre at the Nirimba campus, which is leaving many parents distressed. It's abhorrent conduct, quite frankly, from them. Over the decades that early learning centre became more than just a childcare facility; it became the cornerstone of early learning in the Blacktown local government area. It's a licensed 50-day long-care service. It's not just the closure of the building. It upends the lives of many families in my part of the region who are not only losing a major university presence but a vital childcare service as well. The university's response has been disappointing. They're taking the step because, 'not economically viable.' But don't worry, they'll prioritise transfers for affected families to other early learning campuses. This means that if you're living as a family in the Blacktown area the closest one is now 25 minutes away, and that's if you get in. Otherwise, you're driving 40 minutes to Campbelltown. It's just not on. It's just wrong.

We have the biggest local government area in Western Sydney. We will now not have a significant university presence in there. Again, if Mr Williams wants to wonder why people are questioning the social licence of universities, he can just look straight at his own lap and at the decision that he's made to shut down that campus. It's unacceptable.

The other thing quite distinct from that is we have an urgent need for improved public transport in north-west Sydney. One of the things I've been championing is the extension of the north-west metro rail line from where it stops at Tallawong to St Marys. This will be huge for residents in booming residential estates, but also for existing estates. For whatever reason, the New South Wales Liberal government decided they would stop the rail line at Tallawong and have a huge gap between there and St Marys. It makes absolutely no sense.

In its 2023-24 budget, the New South Wales Minns government committed $40 million to develop the business case to expand it, and I commend them for doing this business case. I believe, as the Prime Minister rightly noted earlier this year in giving a speech to Western Sydney residents, the missing link of the metro is Tallawong to St Marys. He's absolutely right in making that observation, and I believe that a cooperative, collaborative approach by both levels of government will be transformative for our part of Western Sydney.

I've had thousands of residents back a petition calling for the extension of the metro. Building and extending that metro line will then open up the opportunity to develop the next big, central business district in the Blacktown local government area of Marsden Park. We will be able to build a functional, properly working, attractive central business district that will obviously be the biggest central business district in our part of Western Sydney and, importantly, it will create jobs right where people live.

Having the metro connect up with the upgrade that has already been announced and is about to commence on Richmond Road means we'll get public transport, road networks and a focus on a satellite city in Marsden Park. We need to do that by federal and state governments working together. We need to build the extension to the metro from Tallawong right now.

Tania Lawrence (Hasluck, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, and thank you also to your wonderful constituents for their contribution.