Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I want to highlight some of the practical outcomes the Albanese Labor government is delivering across the electorate of O'Connor in the south-west of WA—outcomes that strengthen our regional economy, ease cost-of-living pressures, and back the communities that hold our towns together. And it starts with the backbone of agriculture in our regions. Across regional Western Australia our sheep industry is investing for the future. Through the first round of the $20 million Supply Chain Capacity Program, 40 producers and five processors are upgrading feedlots, expanding cold storage and strengthening on-farm finishing. This is about jobs. It is about building onshore processing capacity, and it is about ensuring that WA sheep graziers remain competitive and productive and are driving growth across regional Western Australia.

But regional strength isn't built only in the paddock; it's also built around the kitchen table. Across O'Connor, 668 households and small businesses have installed batteries under our Cheaper Home Batteries program, storing their solar power and reducing reliance on peak prices. Investing in solar batteries saves families money and gives them greater control over their energy costs. And stronger economies and lower bills matter most when we are investing in people who knit our communities together.

Through the 2025-26 Volunteer Grants program, local not-for-profits can access up to $5,000 to upgrade their equipment, cover their insurance and support volunteer-run activities, from food banks to play groups to men's sheds and every other group in between that keep regional towns connected. From the farm gate to the family budget to the local community hall, this is practical regional investment in action. We are backing local industry, lowering household costs and strengthening organisations that keep the electorate of O'Connor strong.