Zhi Soon (Banks, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Little more than a fortnight ago, the Treasurer stood at the dispatch box and delivered the federal budget. While there has been plenty of commentary about the big-ticket items in the budget—delivering more tax cuts, strengthening Medicare and giving first home buyers a fair go in the market—I want to use this opportunity to recognise some of the programs funded in the budget that haven't got a lot of recognition but will make a big difference for communities like mine in the great electorate of Banks.

In a previous budget, the Labor government committed $350 million over three years for the Thriving Suburbs program to deliver community infrastructure projects across Australia's urban, suburban and peri urban communities that support liveability, local amenity and social cohesion. This is a program that has been delivering for my community, with $9.5 million in federal funding making nine projects across the Canterbury-Bankstown local government area possible, including the new and upgraded Lambeth Reserve pirate ship playground in Picnic Point and the great whale playground at Deepwater Park in Milperra. The budget handed down two weeks ago by this government provided another $781.5 million for further rounds of both the Thriving Suburbs and the Growing Regions programs, enabling us to continue to deliver vital community infrastructure all across the country.

Another great initiative that has been continued is the Stronger Communities program. It has supported projects that strengthen and benefit our local communities. Round 9 was funded as part of the Labor government's 2024-25 budget. The funding provided to organisations in my community made some great projects possible. The Oatley Bay Sea Scouts received $10,000 for renovations of their boat shed, to improve safety and accessibility at their facility. The Picnic Point Public School P&C received $2½ thousand to fund the installation of a war memorial on the school's grounds, which was part of the school's Anzac Day commemorations just a few weeks ago. The Chinese Australian Services group received $8,000 to replace and renew flooring at their Peakhurst activity centre, providing a better space for their community support initiatives mainly focused on older Australians. All together, that's $110,000 of funding provided to organisations across my electorate, benefiting a total of 16 great organisations. The latest budget delivered by this government has provided $30.1 million over the next three years for round 10 of the Stronger Communities program, and I look forward to seeing how that funding benefits organisations in my community and across the country.

Lastly, this government is investing in our regional security and trading relationships. We are making a considered effort to build a more diversified range of relationships with international partners so we can face global challenges with more resilience and more choice. The budget allocates funding that strengthens these strategic relationships and implements our agreements. We are boosting our relationship with India, with a $25.3 million investment of funding over four years. We have allocated $33.2 million to initiatives needed to implement the Jakarta treaty with Indonesia, and we are enhancing our engagement with our Pacific neighbours with a $187.8 million package over four years through a range of initiatives. A strong Pacific is good for Australia and good for our regional neighbourhood. As global development landscape is shaken by major global aid cuts, trade disruptions and energy insecurity, Australia's role becomes ever more important.

This government's budget is focused on making the lives of everyday Australians better, and there is plenty more beyond the big headlines that is working towards this goal and deserves recognition. I look forward to implementing them and ensuring these implementations help many more Australians, including in my electorate.