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

One thing that I've witnessed in coming to the parliament is that, whilst talent is spread evenly, opportunity is not. From the moment that I was elected, I have absolutely stood by my community to ensure that they get the same opportunities, regardless of which postcode they are in, that our inner-city counterparts have. Being periurban, a little bit out of the metro area, certainly has seen some shortfalls in the past, but thanks to Labor, both federal and state, we are absolutely catching up.

Around education, in particular, it's really noticeable. We have done some transformational programs and initiatives under the Australian Labor government, kicking off with early education. We've ensured that three days of subsidised early education is guaranteed and that childcare workers themselves are paid according to the absolute worth that they carry and the importance that they have for the children in our world—with a 15 per cent pay rise.

We now have public schools being fully resource funded to 100 per cent, which was a promise from the Gonski period, and it's taken Labor to deliver on that. In TAFE, most of the courses that are being offered at the North Metropolitan TAFE in Midland are free, and Labor has now made that a permanent feature.

Then we have study hubs. We have a study hub out in Ellenbrook that's about to celebrate its first anniversary—a huge success again.