David Smith (Bean, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When you first enter this place, there are many parts of this job that come as a surprise. The speeches, media appearances and street stalls were to be expected, but something I did not expect was becoming a part-time radio DJ. That is exactly what I've been given the chance to do for a couple of these past Mondays with Valley FM, one of the fantastic community radio stations servicing the Tuggeranong Valley. I've been able to join Tim Kilby to talk not just about politics but about the music that I've listened to over the decades and the influence it's had on my life. It's the sort of conversation you so rarely get to have in this role—a much more personal conversation, but, perhaps, with a heavy nineties influence. I look forward to joining Tim again this coming Monday 1 June at 3 pm. Make sure to tune in, and, Speaker, let me know if you have any requests.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank Valley FM and their presenters, staff and board members for the service they provide to our community. In particular, I want to give a shout-out to Chris McLeod, who's one of the Bean volunteers of the year for 2025. Chris has been a dedicated radio presenter for over 20 years with Valley FM and has gone beyond that, offering valuable input into the ongoing development of the station. Having held the position of secretary for a number of years, he's played a crucial role in communication and organisation for the station as well as mentoring new members of the board and broadcasters. I know that, on the side, he is also a dedicated bagpipe and violin player and is involved in the Canberra Burns Club Pipe Band. This work, alongside the work of others at Valley FM, is all voluntary. Yet it provides a crucial hub of information and entertainment for our community. I look forward to working with Valley FM well into the future.

The annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout is being held on 18 June at Old Parliament House. This will be my 12th consecutive year participating in the sleepout. Thank you, Speaker, for your particular leadership in hosting the 2024 sleepout here in the Parliament House car park. It is no secret to anyone having to travel here at this time of year that the nights get cold, often dropping down to minus-six degrees. Ultimately, that isn't too bad for those of us who have a warm home to return to. But, as we know, not everyone is that fortunate.

At the last census, over 1,500 people were experiencing homelessness in the ACT. For the entirety of Australia, that total was over 122,000 people experiencing homelessness each night. It's important to note that the homeless aren't simply those who are out on the streets. It has been estimated that 15 per cent of homeless people rely on couch surfing with family, friends and acquaintances so that they have a safe place to sleep.

The Albanese government is taking action to help address this crisis. That's why we're investing almost $60 million to supplement rental income for community housing providers delivering social housing for over 4,000 young people aged 16 to 24 who are in receipt of the away-from-home rate of the youth allowance or Abstudy and who are at risk of or are experiencing homelessness. We're also continuing to roll out our ambitious social and affordable housing agenda, delivering 55,000 social and affordable homes right across the country. We are releasing a further $100 million from the Housing Australia Future Fund to improve the quality of housing for First Nations Australians in remote communities. And we're investing $31 million over two years into the Homelessness Access Program to deliver health care to Australians experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.

Homelessness is a challenging issue, and it requires government leadership, great NGOs to invest their time and whole communities coming together to help address it—and the generosity of our community in supporting events like the Vinnies sleep-out. The Vinnies sleep-out is happening across Australia on 18 June. Thank you to all who have put up their hand to participate—in many cases, over multiple years. And thank you to all those who've supported our participation and to those that will step up to provide support over the next couple of weeks as the temperature goes down.