Address-in-Reply
Address-in-Reply
Motion
Resumed from an earlier stage of the sitting.
Ms Emily Hamilton (Joondalup—Parliamentary Secretary) (2:55 pm): Earlier today, I began my Address-in-Reply remarks by reflecting on what a Labor government has delivered for Western Australia since 2017. In 2021, Western Australians doubled down on their support. They returned Labor with a record-breaking landslide, which was a resounding endorsement of our leadership, record and vision. It was more than an election win; it was a mandate for bold reform and decisive investment. During our second term, that support translated into action, record health and mental health investment, major progress on infrastructure and real momentum in delivering the everyday services that families rely on. The Cook Labor government remained focused on outcomes, job creation, quality public services and future-ready planning for the challenges ahead. Now, following another extraordinary victory, it marks the beginning of what is set to become the longest-serving Labor government in WA since the great Labor leaders of the 1930s and 1940s, Collier, Willcock and Wise.
At the heart of our third-term agenda is a renewed commitment to economic security and diversification. WA's economy is strong, but it must also be resilient. That is why we are investing in the jobs of the future in clean energy, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies. These are not just policy priorities; they are real career pathways for people across our state, including in Joondalup. At the heart of our agenda is a bold commitment to building a resilient, future-ready and diversified economy. Although Western Australia's economy remains strong, we are not standing still. We are taking decisive action to futureproof it through strategic investment in the industries of tomorrow. We are creating secure, long-term jobs in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, technology and critical minerals processing—sectors that we know will shape the global economy and provide real opportunities for people living across the state and in Joondalup. This is a government that listens, plans and delivers. We are not just talking about the future; we are getting on and building it. We are making sure that Western Australia stays strong, sustainable and full of opportunity for the next generation—for my kids' kids.
Joondalup is central to that vision. At the heart of our fast-growing northern corridor, we are home to a vibrant, diverse community. With a median age between 35 and 49, our region includes young families putting down roots, working households preparing their kids for TAFE, university or the workforce, and older residents enjoying a well-earned retirement. Joondalup has truly become a destination of choice, valued for its unique blend of lifestyle, opportunity and convenience. As Perth's second CBD, we are well connected by road and rail, enriched by stunning natural assets like Yellagonga Regional Park and proud to host the state's first electric CAT bus service, a clear symbol of our commitment to sustainability. We are also home to some of the state's most important institutions, such as Edith Cowan University, the Joondalup Health Campus, the Western Australia Police Academy, North Metropolitan TAFE, and a thriving network of schools, community hubs and businesses. Since I took office, we have seen real momentum in state investment focused on supporting one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.
One of the projects I am most proud of is the Ocean Reef Marina. Back in 2017, I made a commitment to get this project off the ground, and today it is well underway. We are building a landmark tourism and hospitality precinct that will include Perth's first ocean pool, which is scheduled to open in 2026. Already taking shape, the marina will become a vibrant coastal destination, offering something for everyone.
The $270 million expansion of Joondalup Health Campus is nothing short of transformational. It is reshaping the way our community accesses critical healthcare, providing world-class facilities closer to home while also creating jobs and supporting our local economy. We have already delivered key upgrades: a brand-new mental health unit and an expanded emergency department, a new public ward block, and specialised units for stroke and palliative care. These are not just bricks and mortar; they are investments in care, compassion and dignity. I am especially proud that, for the first time, the new mental health unit includes beds for youth aged 16 to 24 years. Our government recognises the growing mental health challenges faced by young people and we are responding with targeted, meaningful investment to support them when it matters most.
We are also delivering on our promise to build Metronet. Nowhere is that more evident than in the north. Last year, the Yanchep rail extension officially opened, connecting residents from Yanchep to Joondalup and beyond. This is more than just transport; it is about providing access to jobs, education, health care and opportunity. It is about connecting those communities in the north with Perth’s second CBD. Looking ahead, I will continue to advocate strongly to the Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport for the next wave of mid-tier transport solutions. My priority is to strengthen local connections, particularly by linking the Joondalup CBD and train station with our new marina. This link will be essential for local residents and a key part of futureproofing our northern corridor.
When I speak about transport in my electorate, I am proud to highlight that Joondalup is home to Perth’s first ever electric buses. Thanks to the Cook government's commitment to innovation, we now have four battery electric buses servicing local routes, including the Joondalup CAT. These buses were more than a pilot program; they are a glimpse into the future of clean, efficient, low-emissions transport. I began advocating for this technology back in 2019 and I am thrilled to see it not only being trialled but also embraced and expanded. We are not stopping there. Work is already underway to build the necessary charging infrastructure at Elizabeth Quay bus station, preparing for the next phase of this rollout on Perth streets. Even more exciting is the $250 million joint commitment by the Cook and Albanese governments to locally manufacture WA’s new electric bus fleet right here in Perth. With $125 million already committed by the WA government, this program will see around 100 new electric buses built every year in WA. Under a WA Labor government, we are not just upgrading transport but also building it here at home. From C-series trains to electric ferries and electric buses, we are delivering on our bold vision for a future made in WA. Our Made in WA plan is about backing local manufacturing, creating skilled jobs and ensuring our state plays a leading role in shaping a cleaner, smarter and more sustainable future.
We have delivered major investments across every school in Joondalup. We have rolled out new STEM labs at every public primary school, delivered a brand-new Burns Beach Primary School, and invested over $15 million at Ocean Reef Senior High School and more than $5 million at Belridge Secondary College to modernise and upgrade classroom and learning spaces. At Joondalup TAFE, we have invested more than $20 million in critical upgrades, helping to create a world-class training environment right here in the northern suburbs. We have also led the way on fee-free TAFE, making it easier for locals to gain skills that will develop into rewarding careers. But we are not stopping there. As we enter our third term in government, we have a bold and ambitious plan for Joondalup. I made over 35 commitments to our local schools, community organisations and sporting clubs and I am very excited to get on with delivering every single one of them. That includes a record $50 million investment in school upgrades across the electorate. We are also providing another round of student assistance payments, helping families across WA with the rising cost of living. We are significantly expanding the school breakfast clubs and we have announced a $10 million initiative to support WA school canteens.
When it comes to sport and recreation, I have reaffirmed our commitment to Heathridge Park and we will also be delivering a $3 million major upgrade at the Joondalup Sports Association, supporting the growth of local clubs and making sport more inclusive and accessible. These improvements will directly benefit Joondalup Districts Cricket Club, Joondalup City Football Club and Joondalup Bowling Club, helping them to accommodate growing participation and better support their players, especially with the incredible growth in female teams.
As we enter our third term of government, I am proud of how far we have come, and I am energised by the opportunities that lie ahead for Joondalup. I know how vital it is for young people to see a future for themselves in their own community. That is why I am especially proud of our record and our vision for education, training and skills development. We have made TAFE more accessible, supported women into non-traditional trades and strengthened pathways into secure, well-paid work. Joondalup is stepping into a pivotal role in shaping the skilled workforce Western Australia needs. Already recognised globally as a leader in cybersecurity, Joondalup is fast becoming a hub for innovation, emerging technologies and cutting-edge industries. But Joondalup is more than just a thriving local community; it is now one of WA’s most important centres for education, training and innovation. Like I mentioned earlier, at the heart of our city is a world-class learning precinct, which is home to North Metropolitan TAFE, ECU and a growing network of health research and training institutions. Together, these facilities are not just preparing the next generation of professionals but also building a workforce that will shape WA’s future. From nursing and cybersecurity to construction, early childhood education and clean energy trades, students in Joondalup are gaining hands-on experience in sectors critical to our state’s future. With strong partnerships across local hospitals, businesses and industry, this precinct is delivering real world training that leads directly to jobs. That is why Labor's investment in Joondalup matters. We have supported TAFE upgrades, reduced course fees and created new apprenticeship and traineeship pathways. These reforms are unlocking opportunities for thousands of young people who are starting out, workers who are retraining and parents who are re-entering the workforce.
As WA’s economy continues to grow and evolve, Joondalup is central to making sure that our state has the skilled, future-ready workforce it needs. Looking ahead, I am committed to helping us make the most of every opportunity and continuing to foster deeper collaboration across our education and training centres and sectors. We are also backing small business. Under the Cook Labor government, a new support program will provide grants of up to $10,000 to help local businesses grow and thrive. These grants will support access to expert advice in areas like digital marketing, business planning and export readiness. Crucially, the program includes support for cybersecurity, a growing concern for many small businesses. This investment will empower local entrepreneurs with the tools, advice and confidence they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
We know that economic growth must go hand in hand with social progress. That is why I am especially proud of our government's work to improve safety, equality and opportunities for women and girls right across Western Australia. From funding family and domestic violence services to expanding women's health initiatives and supporting women into leadership roles and skilled trades, ours is a Labor government with equity at its core. In Joondalup, we are surrounded by strong women leaders—teachers, nurses, small business owners, volunteers and carers—who deserve a system that respects, values and uplifts their contributions. I will continue to be their strong voice in this chamber and will keep working to ensure that our policies reflect the needs of every woman and girl in our community.
As I close my contribution today, I just wanted to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to those who helped me on this campaign. To the more than 100 incredible volunteers and the many more supporters who stood beside me, thank you. Whether it was delivering flyers, helping out at pre-poll or working tirelessly on election day, your time, energy and belief in what we are doing was the heartbeat of our campaign. I often say I could not do this without you and I mean it every single time. Your support means the world.
Thank you to my director, Dan Caddy, and manager, Dylan Varis. Thank you to the United Workers Union and my campaign field team of Aluel, Maranata and Ryah—thank you for your dedication, your hustle and the heart that you brought to this campaign. You helped carry our message to every corner of our community and I am so grateful. Thank you also to WA Labor State Secretary Ellie Whiteaker and Assistant State Secretary Lauren Cayoun—outstanding women.
I also want to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible work that happens behind the scenes in our electorate offices. For those who have been here for a while, you will know just how vital our staff in our offices are in helping us to serve our communities. For those of you who are just starting out, your office staff are real treasures. I have been lucky to work alongside some truly outstanding people during my time in Parliament, and it is something I will never take for granted. They are often the first point of contact for constituents; they answer the phones, respond to emails, welcome the walk-ins and share in both the challenges and the victories that come with representing a vibrant, engaged community. I want to give a heartfelt thankyou to my electorate office team from this past term, particularly as they are now moving on. Nicola, who has been by my side since 2019, is heading into well-earned retirement. Nicola’s care, wisdom and unwavering commitment to our community has been a true gift. I wish her all the best as she enjoys her new electric bike, long walks in WA's beautiful regions and quality time with her new husband, Patrick. To Dylan, the journey has been nothing short of inspiring. From volunteering on my first campaign in 2016 while still in high school to taking on increasing responsibilities in the office, you have made an incredible contribution. I know your next chapter will be meaningful and full of impact, and I look forward to watching your continued success.
To the people of Joondalup, you are the reason I do this. Every story you share with me, whether at a mobile office, at the school gate or over the coffee that we are sharing, helps shape the work I bring into this chamber. To all Western Australians, we will never take your trust for granted. This third term is not just about resting on our record; it is about building the next chapter together—a chapter that will set up WA for generations to come. And with that, it is time to get back to work.
Mr Dan Bull (Maylands) (3:10 pm): I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather today, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, and pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging. I also acknowledge the ongoing connection that First Nations people have to land, water and culture and the rich and enduring knowledge systems that have cared for country for tens of thousands of years. As a representative in this place, I recognise that meaningful reconciliation must go beyond words, through truth-telling, through treaty and through structural change that supports justice and self-determination for First Nations people. May I request an extension of time?
(Member's time extended.)
Several members interjected.
Mr Dan Bull: It was a tip I got earlier today.
It is with deep humility and great pride that I stand here today as the member for Maylands, representing the community I call home. I thank the people of Maylands for placing their trust in me to be in this place and beyond. The Maylands electorate is the heart of the inner east. Hugging the banks of the Derbarl Yerrigan, the electorate is made up of the suburbs of Maylands and Inglewood, Bedford and Bayswater, Embleton and a portion of Morley. The electorate is rich in diversity—a diversity of cultures, ethnicities, sexual orientations and religions. But what truly makes Maylands special is not just the diversity itself, but also the way our community embraces it. Tolerance, inclusiveness and compassion are values that run deep in the electorate, and at a time when we are seeing these values challenged around the world, I am proud to stand for a community that holds onto them with pride.
Born in Victoria in the same year Star Wars was released, member for Perth, and Elvis died, I was four months old when Dad accepted a new job with 6IX and we moved to Perth. Thank you, Mum and Dad—Julie and Ted—for your decision to do that and for your love and support, and thank you, Ben, Tom and Alexi. Other than one year in Adelaide when I was in year 2, I grew up in the west, and to be honest I do feel like a sandgroper. I will admit that I tried to barrack for the "big V" in the 1980s State of Origin clashes between Western Australia and Victoria, but deep down I have always been a West Aussie.
Back in 1989, when Madonna's "Like a Prayer" topped the charts, I was a kid growing up in North Perth sporting a rat's tail haircut of which my mum definitely did not approve—so much so that I had to sneak off to the barber to pay for it with my own pocket money. Growing up in North Perth and attending a local public school, Kyilla Primary School, we got the chance that year to do a music test to see whether anyone in class was up to the task of learning an instrument. Luckily, I find myself okay at music, and so I managed to get a decent enough score in that test and got to choose to learn to play either the classical guitar or the French horn. Not to be prejudiced towards having the opportunity to learn the likes of classical gas, it was actually the horn for me—mostly because I saw myself as a future saxophone player for Dire Straits, and the horn felt like that was going to keep the dream alive more than choosing an instrument that you strummed. So that was that. To my surprise, though, I fell in love with that instrument quickly, studying it through my schooling and into university. Now why would I share this story? I have found through my life, since the time I took that test in 1989, that any opportunities that have arisen for me, any successes I have managed to achieve or doors that I had the fortune to have open for me, can always been traced back to music in one way or another. But what was it that opened that first door, to have the seeming unlikely opportunity to have the world of music presented to me? It was the public school system. I truly believe that had I not attended that small public school around the corner from where we lived and had I not had the opportunity to take that seemingly innocuous music test in 1989, even despite my rat's tail, I would not be standing here in this place today as the new member for Maylands.
Accordingly, I am excited about the opportunities that are ahead for the next generation of Western Australians because of the strong WA Labor education and school policies laid out in the recent election campaign. These policies are rooted in the Labor values of fairness and equality to ensure that all children, no matter their background, get access to quality and affordable education. These policies will see out-of-school-hours care for the community of the Maylands Peninsula Primary School become a reality, supporting working families. These policies will see critically needed air conditioning installed in classrooms at Embleton Primary School. The Cook Labor government will truly invest in our public schools, helping to create opportunities for the next generation, just as the public school system was critical for the opportunities I have been given.
I feel really fortunate to have had some amazing experiences through music, and opportunities have emerged for me because of music, even when those opportunities, on first blush, do not necessarily seem to be obviously due to music. However, I owe having a legal career as well as a local government career, in at least some part, to music. I have also had unique opportunities to tour many towns and cities in Western Australia and Australia, as well as countries abroad, both in the classical world as well as banging keyboards in the back of rock'n'roll bands. This was a number of years ago now, and although my touring days are long gone, my passion for music and the arts certainly is not.
The Maylands electorate is home to many, many artists and musicians, classical players and contemporary, sculptors and dancers, painters and photographers, designers and writers, filmmakers and creatives—the list goes on and on. It is also home to some amazing arts organisations such as West Australian Ballet, West Australian Jazz Youth Orchestra, Inglewood Arts Hub, Roxy Lane Theatre, Ellis House Community Art Centre, Laneway Artspace and many dancing schools, like the performance company where my own daughter, Willow, dances—probably just about every day of the week to be honest—just to name a few. There are also some terrific live venues like Lyric's Underground and Milk Bar at the Civic Hotel. This results in a progressive local community rich in creativity, and as someone who has worked in the industry, I am passionate about the importance of supporting artists and people who work in the creative industries. I know this government understands this as well, and I am excited about the opportunity to work with Maylands creatives over the course of the next four years.
(Interruption.)
Mr Dan Bull: Chin, chin! It was about three minutes too late.
My wife, Nyssa, and I, along with our two kids, Willow and Harrison, moved to the Maylands electorate in 2011, and we immediately fell in love with the local community. A few years later, I had the honour of being elected as a local councillor to the City of Bayswater, and over the course of nearly a decade I have had the fortune of representing many portions of the Maylands community in that role, including as mayor for four of those years. Working within and getting to know these communities was a central inspiration for me to run for state Parliament—to be able to represent and lift the voices of local communities in this place. During my time as councillor and mayor, along with fellow councillors and working with the local community, we achieved a lot together, both in good times and more challenging times. There was no tougher time than when COVID-19 hit back in 2020. Like everyone, our community faced unprecedented challenges, but I saw locals rally around each other and have each other's backs.
As mayor, I knew that we had to act quickly to support our community. The council and I resolved to take immediate steps to do just that. We established a community care team that reached out to older and vulnerable residents to ensure they were supported and had what they needed. To ease the financial pressure, we froze rates and introduced a hardship policy for those most affected. We knew that many local businesses were hit hard, so we provided direct financial support where we could. On top of that, we approved a local economic and social stimulus package designed to promote employment, create jobs and build our community's capacity for the future. This included key infrastructure projects like the redevelopment of Maylands Waterland, investing in the future of our community. But it was not just during the tough times. As mayor and councillor, I have been committed to ensuring that our area is a thriving, inclusive and sustainable place to live. We focused on inclusivity through things such as maintaining access and inclusion committees to give a voice to marginalised groups, including people with disabilities, multicultural communities and the LGBTQIA+ communities. As part of our reconciliation journey we introduced an Aboriginal advisory committee, which led to the City of Bayswater's reconciliation action plan, which was a crucial step towards a more inclusive and welcoming area.
We also made strides in environmental sustainability, including developing a sustainability and livability framework, an emissions reduction and renewable energy strategy and an urban forest strategy, significantly increasing the number of trees being planted each year. Much of this was achieved through working closely with local environmental activists and community groups. The electorate is fortunate to boast many such groups, such as Friends of Claughton Reserve, Friends of Gobba Lake, Friends of Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary, Environment House, Baigup Wetlands Interest Group, Friends of Bardon Park, Friends of Maylands Samphires, Friends of Swan Lake, Berringa Park Friends Group, Friends of Maylands Lakes and Friends of Inglewood Triangle. These volunteers work tirelessly to rehabilitate the many sensitive ecological areas to build resilience within those ecological communities, improve biodiversity and fight the climate crisis.
At this point, I would like to take a moment to deeply thank my family. As everyone here would be well aware, the pursuit of politics is unachievable without the support of our families. My wife, Nyssa, "Nys", is an absolutely remarkable person. In addition to supporting me and our kids, Nys is a lecturer at the University of Western Australia Law School, having completed her honours in identifying shortcomings in the Australian trademark regime that resulted in a failure to protect First Nations people's traditional cultural expressions as trademarks. She is currently at the tail end of completing a PhD in the effect and effectiveness of using social media as an alternative means of seeking recourse for designers who have had their work stolen by large companies. Thank you so much, Nys, for your unwavering support. I love you.
Willow, "Wil", the oldest of our two children, is developing into an amazing young adult, kicking goals at school and passionately pursuing her love of dancing, and Harrison, "Haz", the younger of our two, is working it all out and maturing day by day. He is a guy with a combined passion for animals and animal conservation as well as a love of art and drawing. Thank you, Wil and Haz, for your continued support and patience as your dad does this politics thing. I love you both.
I also take a moment to acknowledge and thank another young man in our family's life—Jordan Jose. We have neurodiversity in our family, and Jordan is Haz's support worker, mentor and friend. I acknowledge the important work of support workers and how they actually transform people's lives. They are a cohort of workers who quietly go about doing important things for lots of people, and I extend my gratitude to the support worker industry and support workers around our state. Thank you for your work.
I also acknowledge the important work the United Workers Union does representing support workers and campaigning on behalf of support workers to ensure that they receive the fair pay and conditions, safe workplaces, job security, quality training, career progression and respect at work that they deserve. Autistic and neurodiverse people can contribute so much to our society, but we also know that they face challenges every day as they try to get along in a world that just has not been designed with them in mind. The use of coping mechanisms like masking and medication only helps so much. However, there are opportunities to improve the lives of people who are neurodiverse. As someone in a family with autism, pathological demand avoidance and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, I see firsthand the challenges that neurodiverse people and their families can face. However, there is a community out there, and there are supports out there too. Neurodiversity is a superpower and our communities are richer as a consequence of the valuable contributions that autistic and other neurodiverse people make.
I am proud to be part of this Cook Labor government as it looks to implement vital policies that will ensure that, with the right training, GPs will be able to diagnose ADHD and prescribe treatment to people with ADHD. I also acknowledge the important work that was undertaken in the last term of government by the Education and Health Standing Committee, which undertook an inquiry into support for autistic children and young people in schools, titled A different kind of brilliance. The result of the inquiry was to identify opportunities for the state school system to grow and evolve in a way that better and more consistently supports autistic students and their families, as well as teachers, education assistants and other staff. I am hopeful that recommendations provided within the report are able to be implemented, and I look forward to working in this government to assist in that where I can, because, at the end of the day, it is so important that we do all we can to make sure that neurodiverse people and their families are supported so that everyone can have the most enriching and successful lives possible, ensuring there are enduring opportunities allowing all people to contribute to society in a meaningful way.
Before I say some thankyous, it would be remiss of me not to spend a few moments discussing the substantial nature of Metronet within the Maylands electorate. With the recent introduction of the Ellenbrook line and the opening of the new Morley Metronet station, Maylands now boasts four train stations. In addition to Morley, we will find Maylands, Meltham and the newly upgraded Bayswater station—the second largest in the network. This is transformative, with lines now running to Midland, the airport and Ellenbrook, and it means that more locals than ever within the electorate can access affordable public transport. Time and again during the recent election campaign, as I doorknocked in Embleton, the number of people who told me that their lives had changed in such a positive way because of the new Morley station was absolutely remarkable. But what is also exciting is the future housing opportunities that these Metronet stations create. By embracing these opportunities, we have the potential to create generational benefits for the residents of Maylands. With DevelopmentWA already having completed the precinct and zoning planning around the Bayswater station and with the master planning and rezoning around Morley station progressing, these opportunities for new, diverse and affordable housing within the electorate are clear and apparent, allowing more people to live near not only train stations, but also thriving town centres, the city, the river, the airport and commercial and industrial areas. The ability of people to live, work and play locally means more people and families from a tapestry of backgrounds can enjoy a more enriching and fruitful life, contributing to the local economy and community.
I look forward over the course of my term to doing what I can to help drive opportunities for diverse, affordable and social housing situated close to these nodes, creating opportunities for more people to live in the inner east from a range of backgrounds, cultures and socio-economic circumstances.
As I mentioned earlier, politics is a team pursuit, and my election win was in no small part because of the following people. Thank you to my incredible campaign team, a group of people who have been nothing short of amazing and who work tirelessly: Hon Alanna Clohesy MLC, Sarah Rowan, Rhiannon Italiano, Brendan McGrath, Cale Black, Chloe Sanderson, Fran Hickling, Steph Gray, Nicolette Lenihan and Dennis Liddelow. I would also like to thank Mark Sandler, Callum Ellery, Hamish Sneyd, Matteo Rossaro, Don O'Doherty, Tom Rolls, Glenys Addy, Marije van Hemert, Dom Rose, Kym Coolhaas, Judy Edwards and Mark Reed.
To the volunteers, your energy and dedication was critical to the campaign's success. Whether you doorknocked, made phone calls, letterboxed, took or constructed yard signs, delivered signs, took photos or videos, were in the photos or videos, handed out flyers at train stations or at school gates or how-to-vote cards at pre-poll and polling booths across the electorate or helped with events, each volunteer played a crucial role.
To everyone who donated to my campaign and helped fundraise, thank you for your generous contributions. Thank you to members who have supported me throughout my time in public office as a councillor through to today, in particular, Minister Sanderson; Minister Carey; the member for Bassendean, Dave Kelly; Hon Alanna Clohesy MLC; Hon Pierre Yang MLC; and federal member of Parliament Hon Patrick Gorman. A special thankyou also to Marlene Robinson, Freeman of the City of Bayswater, for her mentorship, support and friendship throughout that time.
A huge thank you to our Labor-affiliated unions, in particular, the Finance Sector Union and Jason Hall, Adam Fay and Di Marshall, and the United Workers Union and Carolyn Smith and Dom Rose, for your ongoing support. Thanks to everyone at campaign headquarters who kept everything operating seamlessly behind the scenes and, finally, to the voters and everyone in the seat of Maylands. Whether you supported me or not, I thank you for participating in the election; your voice matters, and I am committed to working hard for each and every one of you.
For almost 10 years, I had the privilege of serving parts of the community of the seat of Maylands as a local councillor, and now I am incredibly honoured and humble to begin a new chapter in state Parliament. Throughout that time one thing was abundantly clear: the challenges we face as a community cannot be solved by any one individual, organisation or level of government alone. They require deep collaboration and a spirit of working together, listening to each other and building trust across different perspectives. I have seen firsthand the extraordinary power of people coming together—neighbours supporting neighbours, local groups organising for change, businesses partnering with community organisations and volunteers giving their time, energy and skills to make a difference.
In Maylands, our strength lies in our ability to come together to harness the diverse talents, perspectives, experiences and passions of our people. As the member for Maylands, I will always bring that spirit of collaboration to the table. I believe that real progress happens when we involve our community meaningfully in shaping our future and when we value and elevate the voices of local residents, businesses and community, arts and sporting groups. Collaboration is not just a nice idea; it is the foundation for lasting positive change. It is how we build a stronger, fairer and more resilient community, and it is how, together, we will meet the opportunities and challenges ahead. With a focus on supporting locals with the rising cost of living, investing in our health system and in local schools and education, making public transport more accessible and affordable, supporting the arts and ensuring our local clubs and community groups get the support they deserve, I am ready to work for the people of Maylands each and every day. Thank you.
(Applause.)
The Acting Speaker (Mrs Magenta Marshall): Thank you, members. I give the call to the member for Geraldton.
Mrs Kirrilee Warr (Geraldton) (3:37 pm): Thank you, Acting Speaker. Fellow members of Parliament, family, friends and the people of Geraldton, thank you for this opportunity. Before I begin, I would like to congratulate all the newly elected members to the 42nd Parliament and thank both sides of the house and parliamentary staff for the warm welcome. I look forward to working alongside you and getting to know you in the years ahead.
When writing an inaugural speech, we all strive to create a lasting impact that will inspire others and drive meaningful change. I hope to do just that by speaking to the values that guide me and the vision for a future that uplifts and unites. I stand here today completely humbled, deeply honoured and, above all, profoundly grateful. Not since 1947 has there been an elected Nationals WA, formerly the Country Party, member for Geraldton. It is a privilege to be elected as a member of Parliament and to represent the community and region that has shaped who I am. I come into this role not claiming to have all the answers but with a curious mind, an open heart and a fierce commitment to listen, learn and lead. To me, politics is about service above self. It is about community and people. It is about amplifying the voices of working individuals, families, young people, people with disabilities, Aboriginal communities, LGBTIQ+ people, culturally diverse groups and seniors. These voices must be heard, respected and valued in every decision we make.
At the core of everything I do is a deep commitment to community and people, a passion for regional areas and a dedication to making a difference. For much of my working life, I have always maintained an apolitical approach and was content to keep it that way. However over time, particularly in the last four years, in the aftermath of Cyclone Seroja and seeing regional voices being diminished through the abolition of regional representation in the other place, along with the loss of the electorates of North West Central and Moore into the seat of Mid-West, I found myself at a crossroads.
When disaster struck in 2021, including to our own farming property, I witnessed firsthand the devastation Seroja left behind—homes destroyed, businesses ruined, lives overturned. But what I remember most vividly is the resilience of our community: neighbours helping neighbours, strangers becoming friends—an unstoppable spirit that refused to be broken. I saw what true leadership meant—rolling up your sleeves, getting on the ground and getting to work.
Seroja tested our leadership and our ability to rebuild stronger. Sadly, the recovery was slow and frustrating. Red tape strangled progress and to this day too many homes and businesses remain in limbo. I still deeply feel the abandonment our region experienced when vital investments were withdrawn and the concerns of our communities seemed to be ignored. It was through this experience that my road to politics was truly cemented. It taught me that real change happens when good people stand up, speak up, and take action. In 2024, I joined the Nationals WA because I believe, as they do, in the power of local leadership, in standing firm for regional values, and in fighting relentlessly for the future our communities deserve.
Having called Chapman Valley and Geraldton home for most of my life and having only lived permanently in the three post codes of 6532, 6530 and 6153, it is with great pride that I acknowledge the presence of some of my family here today, who also call Chapman Valley and Geraldton home.
I am the youngest daughter of Shirley and Milton Mincherton, with only my brother Craig being younger than me. Today he could not be here as he is busy seeding crops at the family farm. My sisters Narelle, who is watching via live stream back in Geraldton, Corina and Nadine who are with me today observed our mum and dad work tirelessly to build a future for us all. They were both generational farmers and active community members, always ready to pitch in and get things done with whatever resources were available. They provided a childhood of freedom and adventure, which is rare in today's world. We spent our days riding motorbikes and horses, chasing sheep, planting trees, and building cubby houses. I cherish memories of bush picnics, starry nights and making mud pies after the rain, which were only captured in a few Polaroid photos.
Our only communication was a landline, ringing constantly between 7:30 and 8:30 pm with calls from farm agents and suppliers. The 7:00 pm ABC news was our weather report and link to the outside world, vicariously sparking my early interest in politics. Weekends were filled with church, tennis, and golf, and mail arrived once a week at a communal mailbox on the local road. Trips to Geraldton were rare treats, while events like the local show and Christmas tree celebrations were always highlights. The school bus ride took an hour each way, with no air-conditioning or smartphones. Gosh! To think that Chapman Valley only got its first mobile phone tower in 2016—a milestone I proudly helped advocate for. Whatever the challenges, I look back on this upbringing and it was idyllic. It instilled in me the value of hard work, responsibility, and a deep connection to both people and the land.
From the age of 11, I left home, not returning to live at home again for long periods, to attend Dellahale House and Geraldton Senior High School. I grew both academically and personally, embracing the independence of boarding school. This period shaped my resilience, work ethic, and sense of responsibility while strengthening my bond with the Geraldton community through sporting pursuits and local activities. It was the formative years after high school that really shaped my love for rural Australia. I spent a gap year in Texas as a Rotary youth exchange student. This transformative experience broadened my world view and deepened my appreciation for global connections. When I flew out, it was the first time I ever remember seeing my dad cry. I then pursued a Bachelor of Science at the University of Western Australia, majoring in exercise and health with a minor in business commerce. To support myself, I worked as a casual waitress at Miss Maud's in Fremantle and the Matilda Bay Tea Rooms in Crawley. I became the first in my family to graduate from university, a milestone that reinforced my pride in my educational journey. After graduation, I received a Rotary ambassadorial scholarship to study at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
All those years were full of challenges, including homesickness and big adjustments, but I found strength and warmth in the people around me. Ultimately, in 2002, love brought me back home. I married a farmer from just down the road in 2007—during some tough drought years. Today we are together raising a family, running a business, and committing ourselves to the place we proudly call home—the electorate of Geraldton.
For those who do not know Geraldton, it is a region defined by big ideas and a true sense of community. It is a place rich in history and full of promise—from the Yamatji people, whose deep connection to the land stretches back millennia, to the farmers, fishers, miners, business owners, and families who continue to nurture and grow our community. Geraldton is fringed by the sparkling turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, vast farming plains, the striking Moresby Range, and vibrant carpets of wildflowers that paint the landscape in spring. It is home to iconic Australian landmarks like Hutt Lagoon, the pink lake; Nature's Window at Kalbarri National Park; the leaning trees, thanks to the strong southerly winds; the HMAS Sydney memorial; and the Batavia shipwreck. Our vibrant communities stretch from Northampton and Kalbarri to Mullewa, Greenough and Walkaway. It is also home to close-knit communities like Binnu, Yuna, Nabawa and Nanson, as well as the dynamic and growing City of Greater Geraldton. I have witnessed many changes over the years—some welcome, others more challenging—but I stand today filled not with fear, but with hope for what Geraldton has already achieved, and hope for what lies ahead.
The highly anticipated Oakajee industrial estate is located just to the north in the Shire of Chapman Valley. Few people know this estate. I am fortunate to know a little something about it. I wrote about Oakajee in a year 9 English essay and later worked on it as a planning officer, and then as a local councillor for more than a decade—for some of those years as the shire's youngest and first female shire president. I have engaged in countless conversations with locals, stakeholders, developers and even opponents. I helped zone the land, revise the structure plan, and even relocate the last resident from the industrial core zone—an emotional task I remember vividly—almost 20 years ago. Now earmarked as a project of state significance, Oakajee offers enormous opportunity. But for it to succeed, governments must work genuinely with local communities. Locals are not just stakeholders; they are custodians of the future. True progress is only possible when those most affected are genuinely heard and empowered. Planning must respect them and not just tick boxes.
To the west, the potential tourism and established fishing grounds of the Abrolhos Islands await—a hidden gem of Western Australia, rich in history, biodiversity, and economic opportunity. The Abrolhos are not just a series of islands; they are a living link to our maritime past. The islands also support some of our most valuable fisheries, particularly for the western rock lobster, which has sustained local communities and contributed significantly to the state's economy for generations, as well as scallops, octopus, oysters and pearls. With thoughtful development, the Abrolhos could become a world-class model for ecotourism and sustainable fishing. Tourism in the region is steadily maturing thanks to the strong foundations established through initiatives like the 2014 Mid West Regional Blueprint and previous investment via the Royalties for Regions program. These efforts have been pivotal in transforming the Mid West into a sought-after destination, showcasing the diverse natural beauty and unique experiences our region has to offer. Projects like the Kalbarri Skywalk highlight our region's extraordinary natural landscapes in a way that captures the imagination and admiration of all who visit. As a former Mid West Development Commission board member, I am proud to have helped drive these projects.
To the east and south, our region is anchored by rich agricultural and mining resources—industries that have long been the strength of our economy. Beyond these traditional commodities lies immense potential for future industries, including renewable energy, critical minerals, value-added manufacturing and agri-innovation. With the right investment, planning and support, these sectors can create new jobs, strengthen regional resilience and ensure that future generations continue to thrive in the Mid West.
Geraldton is a region full of opportunity and is strategically positioned to unlock its full potential and build a prosperous future. As the member for Geraldton, I am committed to championing the issues that matter most to our community. The concerns I hear every day are the priorities I campaigned to address. I will fight tirelessly to ensure Geraldton's future is shaped by the needs, hopes and aspirations of its people. My goal is clear: to leave a legacy that makes a real difference and to create lasting opportunities and a stronger, brighter future for generations to come.
Geraldton is calling out for safer communities, where people feel safe walking the streets and secure in their homes. We must tackle crime at its roots by addressing the underlying causes and by properly funding local police to put permanent rapid response teams in place. Building trust between residents and law enforcement through strong community programs is essential, alongside action to combat antisocial behaviour and create safe public spaces. Everyone deserves the Geraldton we remember, where children played freely, neighbours walked without fear, and homes were places of true safety. This also means stronger support for victims of domestic violence, better access to mental health services and a judicial system that applies penalties consistently and fairly.
Access to quality health care should not be a privilege for big cities. It must be a right for everyone. One of my priorities is improving health care in Geraldton so people are not forced to travel long distances to Perth for essential care—like the mother seeking a paediatrician appointment because a child health nurse identified a growth abnormality, the young infant requiring cardiac surgery, the son who had to wait over six hours for treatment in the emergency department, the grandmother who dearly would have loved to receive cancer treatment closer to home, the sister who required mental health care and support, and the father who suffers Parkinson's disease and needs neurologists. They deserve care closer to home, surrounded by loved ones. These people are my family. We need real investment in local clinics, hospitals and specialised services, giving health professionals the tools they need to deliver the best care. Expanding the telehealth and mobile health units will also ensure remote communications are not left behind. Better local health care means a stronger, healthier Geraldton.
Affordable quality housing is also essential for strong communities. We need greater investment in diverse housing options, from affordable homes for families and rentals for young people to crisis accommodation for the homeless. Good housing will help seniors to age in place, strengthen our workforce, support local businesses, drive sustainable population growth and secure Geraldton's future.
We also need to invest in education and training to ensure that young people in Geraldton can see a future for themselves. Geraldton is already leading the way with the Geraldton Universities Centre. The GUC has been a lifeline for many young people in our community, allowing them to pursue higher education right there at home. Without it, many students would have been forced to leave Geraldton to access tertiary education, often with the added burden of moving away from family and support networks at a huge expense. It is about creating an environment where young people can grow up with the knowledge that fulfilling careers are available right there in their hometown, whether it is through apprenticeships, internships or university partnerships.
Backing our regional industries—agricultural, mining, manufacturing and more—is also vital. These sectors are the backbone of Geraldton, and they must be supported with strong regional policies, investment in innovation and better access to basic services like telecommunications. I have long advocated for strong regional development frameworks because I believe in protecting our way of life, supporting local jobs and ensuring young people can see a future here in Geraldton—a future built on opportunity, resilience and pride in our community.
(Member's time extended.)
Mrs Kirrilee Warr: Modern infrastructure is the backbone of a strong regional economy. Upgrading our roads, rail, ports and energy networks is critical to boosting local industries, supporting business growth and meeting the needs of the growing population. For too long, I have watched our roads crumble from chronic underinvestment, with lives lost and families devastated from road fatalities. That must change. We need serious investment, but it is not just about fixing what is broken; it is about building a future that we can be proud of. Long-term planning means investing in sustainable energy, smart technology and infrastructure that grows with our community. Our schools, hospitals and community spaces must be futureproof to give our children every opportunity to succeed in a changing world. Western Australia's success is driven by the strength of its regions. Thriving country communities create the wealth, opportunity and innovation that power our entire state. We need a government that recognises this, both now and into the future, and delivers it for every Western Australian.
I call on my fellow members: open your hearts and minds to the realities of rural and regional life, please. Be curious. Ask the questions you do not yet know to ask. Take that understanding back to your electorates. Share with your constituents the true challenges facing regional, rural and remote communities. Only by bridging the gaps in understanding can we leave this state better than we found it.
None of this would be possible without the support of my community. To the people of Geraldton, supporters and followers, thank you for trusting me with your stories, your struggles and your dreams. Whether it was at the doors, at the markets, at events, on the streets or, like the 14-year-old girl who stopped to chat with me most days, at the pre-poll location, your faith humbles me every day.
To past teachers, I shout-out to my primary school teachers who sent me cards and emails last month on my entering Parliament. Friends, branch members, teams of volunteers and the dedicated campaign committee—Tash, Liz, Kelly, Julie and Jas—stood by me. To mentors and party stalwarts—Hon Martin Aldridge, who is here today and about to deliver his valedictory in the other place, Murray Criddle OAM, Ian Blayney and Grant Woodhams—your collective wisdom is drops of gold and invaluable to me. I am someone who grew up watching you in this place, and it is now a pleasure to know you personally.
The people I call my campaign family, and many I am fortunate to also call my friends, are campaign manager Rob Horstman; campaign coordinator Debbie Carson; campaign champion and encourager, and possibly the person who kicked this off for me, Paul Brown; and state campaign director Nathan Quigley. Together, we have shared a vision of fairness, opportunity and hope, and maybe a few tears, sighs of relief and a lot of fun along the wombat trail. I am deeply grateful to you for your time, your tireless energy, belief and determination. You have made this journey possible for me. I will be forever indebted to your commitment in pursuing this on my behalf.
To the National Party, thank you for choosing me. I thank state director, Julie Kirby, and her team, state president, Julie Freeman, the Young Nats, state and federal members, the secretariat and staffers. I appreciate all that you have done during the campaign. To my Nationals colleagues—as local champions, you said yes to making a difference. The people of the regions have spoken, and thanks to their support, we have secured one of the Nationals' best election results yet. This achievement is a true reflection of the strength in our team. Special thanks go to the National Party leaders—the member for Mid-West, Shane Love, and the member for Roe, Peter Rundle—for your unwavering support. To the member for Albany, Scott Leary, the member for Warren–Blackwood, Bevan Eatts, the member for Central Wheatbelt, Lachlan Hunter, and newly declared members in the other place, Julie Freeman and Rob Horstman—together, we will deliver for our communities and strengthen the future of Western Australia. We will continue to be a strong voice for the regions and build on the powerful legacy left to us by leaders like Mia Davies, Hendy Cowan, Terry Redman and Brendon Grylls. Let us keep pushing for meaningful change.
To my extended family, Brett's family, Avon and Janine who are here with me today, and those who I call family, thank you for your years of support. I often wonder what Brett's mum, Wendy, who passed so early in life, long before I really got to know her, would think of all of this. I hope she would be proud.
Mum and Dad, who are also here with me today, you have always supported me, even when the way forward was not clear. You have been my biggest cheerleaders, encouraging your family to dream big and believe we can achieve anything if we put our minds to it. You both embody strength and love, and I admire your resilience through tough times. I have learned from you both that kindness is a strength, that you should treat others as you would want to be treated, and that standing up for your mates is the essence of true leadership.
To my children, Zoe and Rhys, you are my greatest teachers. They say you cannot be what you cannot see, and I know you have seen a lot in your short years. You have grown up in council chambers, community meetings and boardrooms, often with iPads, books and snacks in hand as we crisscrossed the region. You inspire me every day to work for a future in which every child knows they belong and every dream is possible.
And especially to Brett, my safe haven, for whom I am simply Kirra, wife, mother to our children and farmer—the roles I cherish most—you are my partner in every season of life. Thank you for your steadfast love and support. Thank you for holding me up when I could not stand on my own, both physically after back surgery and emotionally through tough times, and for cheering on our next wild adventure from afar or near. After more than 20 years together, I love you more than words can express. I still think I am so lucky to have you by my side.
There is no doubt I am here because of the power of hard work, perseverance and a deep commitment to community. That is what shaped me and that is what will guide me every day in this role. I will not sit idle; I am ready to work side by side, shoulder to shoulder with you, for you and because of you. I am ready to push for the action and investment our community and our state deserves.
Thank you, Acting Speaker. I look forward to playing my part in good government in this great state of WA.
(Applause.)
Mr Daniel Pastorelli (Landsdale—Parliamentary Secretary) (4:05 pm): It is an honour to stand here today as the member for Landsdale, and I want to thank the people of Landsdale for placing their trust in me.
I acknowledge the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation as the traditional owners of the land on which we meet here at Parliament House and pay my respects to their elders, past and present. I also congratulate the Speaker on his appointment and all members of the Legislative Assembly on their successful election, particularly the class of 2025. I am looking forward to working with you into the future.
It is an immense privilege to be here as a member of the 42nd Parliament of WA. I am very much aware of the responsibilities we all have as members of this place, especially when it comes to putting the interests of all Western Australians first, something I am wholeheartedly committed to doing each and every day with professionalism, energy and enthusiasm.
I take this opportunity to also pay tribute to my predecessor, the former member for Landsdale, Margaret Quirk, who achieved so much throughout her 24-year parliamentary career. I want to thank Margaret for her service as the local member of Parliament and also for her personal support throughout my campaign.
For my family, Landsdale is home. Like so many young Western Australians, my wife, Carla, and I purchased our block of land, built our house and have made it home since 2012. Today, it is where we are raising our two and a half-year-old son, Julian. Over the past 13 years, we have seen our community and neighbourhood grow. Each week, new homes are built by new families from all walks of life and with roots all over the world, who are excited about what the future holds for their families in our great state. My community represents modern WA—a community with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Landsdale is proudly diverse. It is so uplifting to be part of our successful multicultural community. It enriches our neighbourhoods in culture, traditions and languages, not to mention some incredible food from right across the globe.
The electorate of Landsdale is centred around the suburb from which its name originates. Landsdale is about 15 kilometres north of the CBD in the southern area of the City of Wanneroo. It went through a significant transformation following European settlement. One of the lesser-known facts about Landsdale is that, as early as 1876, the area was curiously called Snake Swamp. Let us just say that, thankfully, the future developers did not use that name as a selling point. In my research I learnt that Snake Swamp was regularly used for horse race meetings and social events, attracting people from across Perth. I wanted to note this insightful and eloquent description of those events by historians Bill Cooper and Gil McDonald, who stated:
The track was rough … Despite the heavy going and the inferior breeding of the horses, each race meeting was a highly important and remarkably prolonged social occasion. In the late afternoon once the last race had been run, everybody would adjourn for high tea … Following the meal there was dancing, which frequently continued until the early hours of the morning.
It is pleasing to know that the good folk of Snake Swamp knew how to throw a party back in the day! The area that was home to all those race meets is now called Warradale Park and is the location of picturesque parks with a natural wetland, at the heart of the suburb, that is used by hundreds of families each day—hopefully without the snakes!
Come the 20th century, the number of families moving into the area began to grow, particularly from the 1950s, as Landsdale became mostly used for market gardens. The influx of many Italian and other European families into the area because of the quality soil conditions is what Landsdale became more famous for, including many Vietnamese families prior to urban residential development.
Only recently, the last remaining strawberry farm in the suburb, just around the corner from my house, closed to pave way for more housing, which was personally disappointing given the quality of the fruit and the low price at the farm gate. The transition from market gardens to suburbia really kicked off in the 1990s, and by 2001, the suburb was home to just under 4,000 people. The significant subdivision and development that then occurred post-2010, which continues to this day, saw the population increase significantly to nearly 16,000 local residents by the time of the 2021 census. This number has grown again over the past four years as the last remaining pockets of land are developed for residential housing.
The growth of the Landsdale electorate is not about to slow down, with future housing earmarked for the north-eastern area of the electorate, known as East Wanneroo. The approved East Wanneroo District Structure Plan, which takes into account the largely rural localities of Gnangara, Wanneroo and Jandabup in my electorate, incorporates more than 8,000 hectares of future residential development to be home to a further 150,000 people. It will be a housing boom when development begins. I fully support this vision for future housing, but obviously this will place further pressure on local infrastructure and local services into the future. That is why it is so pleasing to see our WA Labor government focused on the priorities that matter in our growing suburbs.
Over the past eight years, the significant investment in our northern suburbs has benefited my growing community. Recent major road upgrades, including the interchange at Wanneroo Road and Ocean Reef Road, the widening of Hepburn Avenue and its connection to the new and expanded Tonkin Highway, plus the major upgrades to Mitchell Freeway, have all been positive outcomes. The opening of the new Metronet Ellenbrook line has also provided a much-needed rail connection near the east of my electorate, with the new Ballajura station. Thousands of commuters in this part of the electorate can now connect to Metronet and, most importantly, at an affordable price and becoming even more affordable thanks to the suburban flat fare, which will save Landsdale commuters up to $625 each year.
I know the Landsdale community would welcome further investment in Metronet as part of future stages across our suburbs because the more we can connect families to job and education opportunities, with affordable public transport, the more everyone benefits. The recent election also saw a commitment to deliver a package of improvements to Wanneroo Road, between Warwick Road and Elliot Road. These improvements, particularly the Hepburn Avenue intersection and the Whitford Avenue to Gnangara Road connection, will help ease congestion and create a safer road environment for Landsdale residents and, indeed, many residents across the northern suburbs.
WA Labor's record in infrastructure delivery was regularly raised with me while doorknocking. Residents appreciated the investment and were happy to tell their own stories about how infrastructure improvements like the Tonkin Gap project slashed travel times for them to get to work and get home safely. This has only reinforced in my own mind that Western Australians respect a government that delivers on its infrastructure commitments and does not break them, which we saw all too often under the previous Liberal–National government. I must say I find it bizarre that some members of the opposition are now calling for the re-elected government to break key election commitments. I believe that delivering on one's commitments should always be the priority, and it is a major factor in ensuring people can trust their elected representatives.
Health services are also in big demand throughout my electorate as a result of the fast-growing population. This government's $270 million expansion of Joondalup Health Campus, including the new 112-bed public ward, will be a welcome addition, as will the expansion of Osborne Park Hospital and the new emergency department at Royal Perth Hospital. These improvements and the increased capacity, coupled with the growth in workforce, will go a long way in futureproofing the world-class health care on offer in the northern suburbs.
The Landsdale electorate is dominated by young families, so it makes sense that education is a major priority for my constituents. Recent new primary schools built and opened in the electorate, like Carnaby Rise Primary School and Landsdale Gardens Primary School, are fantastic additions, as will be the $40 million redevelopment of Ashdale Secondary College, with works to start imminently. The state government's investment in TAFE through upgrades at both Joondalup and Balga TAFEs, and the significant reduction in course fees, means more young residents can get the training they need close to home. I believe an ongoing investment in our education facilities is integral to creating a learning environment that staff and students can be proud of and succeed in.
The same goes for our sport facilities. I am fortunate to have Kingsway Regional Sporting Complex in my electorate, which thousands of people use week in, week out. Investing in our sporting infrastructure and local sporting clubs is something I am very passionate about—not just because my own son will be using these facilities in the future! It is with much reluctance that I can announce today that my window for a professional sporting career has officially closed! However, my passion for sports continues to burn. Sport is what brings communities together. It is where kids and adults can socialise, be part of something, part of their community, and live a healthy lifestyle away from all the negative distractions that modern life presents. We should never lose what we have with sport in this state. We should invest in it and leverage it for all of its benefits. That is why I am very excited about delivering a whole range of commitments to local sporting infrastructure at Kingsway, Marangaroo, Warwick and the new Malaga sporting complex. Meeting many volunteers across local sport clubs and schools was something I loved about being a candidate. These people are the heart and soul of our local community. They do what they do each week because they care, and I look forward to working with them into the future, to lend a hand and deliver on our commitments.
Throughout my campaign, my team and I doorknocked on more than 12,500 homes. In doing so, I realised that many of my neighbouring residents shared similar views about our local area. They also appreciated Western Australia's position of strength. My community are proud of what WA has achieved. They know our economy is leading the nation and our budget is being responsibly managed. Without a strong budget position, a government cannot invest in what matters and is unable to deal with the challenges that will confront it in the future. This is crucial in helping shield WA from the inevitable swings that come with a globalised economy. Western Australians look to their state government to deliver stable and sensible government, keep the economy growing and create future job opportunities across a diverse range of industries. We must never lose sight of this.
The northern suburbs of Perth have been the backdrop of my upbringing. Born and bred in the northern suburbs, I grew up in Dianella. I was fortunate to live in a loving and caring household, enriched with Italian culture and heritage. Both my parents have links back to the Abruzzo region in central Italy. It is worth noting that the ever-growing Italian caucus of the WA Labor Party has not had an Abruzzese representative for some time, so I look forward to showing the more experienced Calabrian MPs in this place how it is done in the coming years!
My father migrated to Australia with his mother in 1954. He joined his father who had arrived in Australia four years earlier to begin a new life for his family. At the time, my nonno quickly picked up a job working for the Western Australian Government Railways where he worked as a labourer and maintenance worker until the day he retired in the mid-1980s. Dad was a sheetmetal worker and joined the state government's then Building Management Authority, building schools, hospitals and police stations right across Western Australia. In the old BMA, Dad was a shop steward for the Australian Metal Workers Union, representing his co-workers and making sure they were working a safe environment. Standing up for workers' rights was something instilled in me at a very early age. It is something that I will never forget.
In 1993, when I was six years old, Dad was involved in a serious car crash that nearly ended his life. He spent six months straight in hospital and never fully recovered. As a family, our life was turned upside down. Dad could no longer work like he knew and, as a result, life restarted for him and Mum. For a long time, our family relied on Dad's disability support pension to help us through those most difficult years. Mum was an absolute pillar of strength. She picked up more work as a shop assistant before going to TAFE at night to become an education assistant. Even in these circumstances, my sister, Melissa, and I were always still presented with every opportunity, thanks to the sacrifices of our parents. Watching my mum lead our family during those times and seeing Dad's constant struggle with illness or injury taught me a lot about resilience and to never give up, no matter how hard it may seem. My mum and dad are here in the gallery today. Thank you for everything you both have done for me throughout my journey. Because of your love and dedication, you are both my inspiration.
Thanks to my upbringing and experiences, I grew up appreciating the values of hard work and looking out for those who need extra help, and that is why I joined WA Labor as a 19-year-old—because of its values of providing opportunity and support for those who need it most. In our modern world, I believe those values are even more important. With so much global uncertainty, a reliable and stable government can be a genuine force for good—a government that delivers for everyone and leaves no-one behind; a government that supports our economy, creates jobs, builds major infrastructure and tackles the issues that present themselves each day in this ever-changing world.
I have had the privilege of working with some incredibly talented and committed members of Parliament over the course of my career so far. Each of them has contributed immensely to the values of a good government. I am extremely proud of what this WA Labor government has achieved over the past eight years. It was the job of a lifetime to play a role in a hugely talented team as communications director and then chief of staff. A consistent theme throughout those years was a clear commitment to always govern in the interests of all Western Australians. It sounds simple, but for some reason we regularly see governments or politicians get distracted and forget why they are there in the first place. It should never be about evoking fear, creating division or pushing hate. That is the worst kind of leadership; however, unfortunately, it is not uncommon in the year 2025.
The principle of the WA public interest was something that I valued before working for the state government. I learned about its importance in the days in opposition. Some of my colleagues on this side of the chamber will remember those days well, even though we like to forget. There is no doubt that opposition is hard, but, for me, it was the best apprenticeship for government, because I was part of an effective and focused team that prioritised the public interest. It was the best place to learn the ropes, value what is important and focus on the fundamentals of what being a good government is all about.
(Member's time extended.)
Mr Daniel Pastorelli: I think back to the 2017 election campaign. WA was in a very different position than the one we are in now. Back then, our economy was in recession, unemployment was at a record high and our budget was in deficit, with debt climbing at unsustainable levels, with no hope or plan for the future except for a disastrous policy to privatise Western Power. Mark McGowan's WA Labor team presented a vision for the state—one that embraced the principle of public interest. It was a clear vision: stop the privatisation of Western Power, build Metronet to connect our suburbs, and deliver a comprehensive plan to create quality jobs for Western Australians. As a result, our state looks very different in 2025 compared with 2017. Our economy continues to go from strength to strength, with new jobs being created week after week. Indeed, we have experienced one of the longest periods of low unemployment, and people are using Metronet each day, with more projects on the way. There is no doubt we face challenges, and new challenges can crop up at any time, but I believe the strength of WA means we can take on anything.
In 2020, we witnessed the most difficult challenge yet—the COVID-19 pandemic. I had the opportunity to play a role inside government as part of WA's world-leading response. I was fortunate to have a front-row seat to every decision made. It was the most enriching and meaningful work I have ever experienced, because nothing is more important than saving lives and jobs. I want to comment on the leadership of our government through that period. Former Premier Mark McGowan was resolute in his priority to protect the health of Western Australians. Throughout his time as Premier, he never compromised his integrity and values. He worked extremely hard and always stood up for WA.
Former Prime Minister Paul Keating, one of my political idols, said this in 1990 about leadership:
Leadership is not about being popular. It's about being right and about being strong … It's about doing what you think the nation requires, making profound judgments about profound issues.
I think that quote encapsulates the leadership of our former Premier and the positive impact and legacy he left for Western Australia after more than six years in the role.
I take this opportunity to acknowledge Mark McGowan for everything he has done for me. I first met Mark in 2008, when I had the opportunity to briefly work in his ministerial office, and later in 2013 I rejoined him in opposition as a media adviser. The day he retired from politics in mid-2023 marked 10 consecutive years of our working partnership. Over that period I learned so much and had amazing opportunities that I will be forever grateful for. I thank Mark for his ongoing friendship and support.
The COVID-19 pandemic also presented me with the opportunity to work closely with the then Minister for Health and now Premier, Roger Cook. I firmly believe that our discipline and support of each other behind the scenes was crucial to our success, and Roger was integral to that success as health minister. I thank and acknowledge the Premier for his leadership over the past eight years, but also for asking me to be his chief of staff when he took over as Premier. The challenge of transitioning to a new leader was something I was initially anxious about. However, it turned out to be more fulfilling and satisfying than I could have ever imagined. The Premier did an outstanding job. His calm and considered leadership was a key strength, as was his work ethic and discipline, all combining to record one of the greatest election victories in WA history. Premier Roger Cook, I thank you for your ongoing support and friendship. I am honoured to be elected as your parliamentary secretary. I look forward to the job ahead.
Throughout my time working in opposition and in government, I have had the privilege of working with some quality members of Parliament—people committed to the cause and passionate about doing what is right. There are many to acknowledge, but I want to highlight a few ministers who had a positive impact on me. I acknowledge Sue Ellery, Paul Papalia, John Carey, Ben Wyatt, John Quigley and Michelle Roberts, and David Templeman and Alannah MacTiernan, who are both here in the Speaker's gallery today. Thank you. Those people brought enjoyment to my work in more ways than one, no matter how stressful the issue was. I thank them for their contribution and their personal support. I also specifically acknowledge Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti. Apparently, there are no friends in politics. Well, if that is the case, then I have been very lucky with the relationships that I have been able to build. Rita is strong, compassionate and strategic, and very good at what she does. She is also a loyal friend and someone I have been lucky to work with for many years. I managed Rita's campaign in 2008 and 2013 in West Swan, when it was one of the most marginal seats. How times have changed! Serving as her electorate officer at such a young age provided me with the best learning experiences. Thank you, Rita, for all your support and guidance over the years.
There are some other important people I want to thank. Before I do that, I want to thank the Australian Labor Party. Being part of the WA Labor family is something I cherish. It is the reason I am standing here today as the member for Landsdale. I thank all the people I have worked with over the years at WA Labor headquarters. To all the party officials and staff over the years, across different office locations: you all do an incredible job. Thank you for your commitment to the cause.
Throughout opposition and government, I was lucky to be part of a high-quality team made up of smart, kind, decent people, who made my job easier and all played a role in our success, thanks to their hard work. To Guy Houston, Nadeen Roberts, Jamie MacDonald, Jo Gaines, Kieran Murphy, Dave Coggin, Lannie Le-Patterson, Veronica Jeffery, Dan Lines, Olivia Crowley, Mark Scott, Josh Jerga, Luke Clarke, Matt Rogers, Jasmine Williamson, Mark Reed, Sarah Keegan, Cale Herbert, Caitlin Goddard, Joel Kelly, Patrick Ashforth, Ben Coates and Cale Black—thank you. There are many more I would love to acknowledge, but unfortunately I am going to run out of time. I also thank those individuals with whom I worked closely in the public service. Western Australia has some extremely talented public servants. We should always value the good work they do for our state.
Now to my campaign team—the mighty Landsdale team. We were a small team but we were formidable, and I could not be prouder of what we achieved in the circumstances. To Sue Ellery, my campaign director: I know for a fact that I could not have done this without you. Thank you, Sue. You went above and beyond for me and probably asked yourself on a few occasions why the hell did you sign up for the job in the first place! Given this will be on the public record, I take this unique opportunity to say this now. I know that you are retiring from Parliament and all, but how about we go again in 2029? She is nodding and accepting that, just for the record!
To my campaign manager Michael Watts, thank you for all your efforts and for putting up with my endless demands and habits. I also thank other members of my team: Mitchell Goff, Jasmine West and Luke Vittiglia. You guys were superstars who took on so much work and responsibility. The same goes to James Rowe, Lannie and Mark Fahey. I could not have asked for a better group of people, on whom I relied so much. I also thank all the other volunteers and my key supporters who backed me throughout the 11-month campaign—thank you. I also acknowledge and thank Ben Harris, the Secretary of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association of WA union. I value and appreciate all your support, Ben, and I look forward to working together long into the future. To David Michael and Tony Buti, thank you.
On a personal note, I also want to thank my close circle of friends and family who came out and helped me during the campaign, particularly on election day; I called in a lot of favours. For many, this was their first experience on polling booths, and they all did an outstanding job. In fact, I think some now have the political campaigning bug. My brother-in-law Joseph is already strategising my signage rollout for 2029! To my own family, my wife, Carla, and our son, Julian, who are both in the gallery, thank you so much. Julian was the real star of the campaign. He did not want to take off his red shirt after election day. Our families put up with a lot when we run for Parliament, and Carla has endured even more over the years, as I have needed to prioritise my work. There is no way I could do anything like this without having Carla there by my side. I am so proud that she has been able to continue her own successful career in education as well as being the perfect mother to Julian, and all while carrying our future son or daughter, who is due to enter the world in October. Thank you, Carla.
Mr Speaker, we live in the best state in the best country in the world. I am committed to keeping it that way. Throughout my career so far, I have dedicated my time to advancing the interests of our state, and just like my nonno did when he built our railways as a new immigrant, it is that unwavering commitment and dedication that I will now give to the role as the member for Landsdale. Thank you.
(Applause.)
Ms Sook Yee Lai (Bibra Lake) (4:34 pm): I begin by acknowledging that this house sits on Whadjuk Noongar land. I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging. I extend that respect to all Aboriginal people here today.
First and foremost, I want to sincerely thank the people of Bibra Lake for the incredible opportunity to stand here today and speak. I am deeply conscious of the honour and responsibility placed upon me by the people of Bibra Lake as their inaugural member. I promise to do my very best to live up to that trust.
I would like to express my gratitude to the many volunteers, supporters and Labor members who gave their time and efforts to the Bibra Lake campaign. I would not be here today without your help.
I would like to take this moment to congratulate the Premier on leading our party to a historic third-term win. This remarkable achievement reflects the trust and confidence the people of Western Australia have placed in your leadership, and I acknowledge that many of us in this place were successfully elected because voters believed in your vision for the state.
I congratulate the Speaker on his appointment and all members, newly elected and re-elected, on the honour of serving in this place. I look forward to working alongside you all as we serve our communities in this great state of Western Australia. I wish to acknowledge the former member for Willagee, Hon Peter Tinley. I thank him sincerely for his 15 years of dedicated service to the people of Willagee and to the state of Western Australia. His commitment to public life and his contributions to this place have left a lasting legacy that I deeply respect and hope to build upon.
My name is Sook Yee Lai. I am humbled to be the inaugural member for the newly named electorate of Bibra Lake. I also stand here today as the first Australian woman of Chinese heritage elected to this place since its establishment 134 years ago. It was never my intention to be the first and it is not why I sought public office, but it is a milestone worth acknowledging. It matters because Bibra Lake is built on a strong, proud, multicultural community made up of families who have come from many parts of the world and are working hard to create something better for the next generation. I am proud to represent this community that reflects the modern face of Australia and I hope my presence here helps others to see that they too belong in places of leadership and decision-making.
I stand here today having been shaped by my own background and upbringing. I grew up in one of the most remote and unique parts of our country—that is, Christmas Island, in the Australian Indian Ocean Territories. To many people, Christmas Island is known for either the famous red crab migration or its detention centre, but for me it is much more. I had the kind of childhood that many children growing up on Christmas Island had in the 1980s—riding around on our BMX bikes, racing down winding roads, weaving between phosphate stockpiles, and climbing trees in the jungle and swimming in the turquoise waters of Flying Fish Cove. The island was our playground, but it was more than that. It was a community bound by solidarity, bound by culture and bound by the knowledge that when no-one else would look out for us, we would look out for each other. It was a place where in our neighbourhood it was normal to hear English, Malay, Hokkien and Cantonese spoken, sometimes all in one conversation. Uniquely, Christmas Island is the only place in Australia where Chinese New Year, Hari Raya and Christmas are all public holidays, showing its great cultural diversity. These cultural celebrations always brought everyone together. On those days, neighbours would open their homes. The air was thick with the scent of incense and spices, with the sounds of lion dance drums and calls to prayer blending in a way that felt uniquely ours.
Although my life as a child was carefree, there was another story unfolding around us. In 1980, a public inquiry was held into the governance framework of Christmas Island. At that time, Commissioner Sweetland made these remarks. He said the institutional framework that Christmas Island operated under was "outmoded, discredited and in many ways repugnant". Commissioner Sweetland was referring to a situation on Christmas Island in which its colonial roots were distinctly outdated for a territory of Australia. My father, Lai Ah Hong, arrived on Christmas Island during this period—in 1978. At that time, those of Asian heritage were paid one-third of the Australian minimum wage. They were called by numbers, not by their names. They were confined to riding on the cattle bus, not the air-conditioned proper bus. They did not have any right to citizenship, meaning they could work on Christmas Island for 30 years or live there for their whole life and still be denied citizenship. They did not have the right to own a home and were subjected to the threat of being deported at a moment's notice, never to return.
My story began during this period in Australian history. My father, Lai Ah Hong, was born in a town called Kluang in the state of Johor, Malaysia, the eldest of nine children. Due to the economic conditions at home and being the eldest son, he went to work at the age of 13 years so that he could contribute to the family household income. In his early 20s, Dad saw an advertisement for work on Christmas Island. It was in this spirit of adventure that he thought it might be a great opportunity for work. He just did not realise it would be the adventure of a lifetime. Arriving on Christmas Island in 1978, Dad was shown to his living quarters and it was there he first realised the stark difference in how Asian workers were treated. His living quarters was a small room with no mattress, just the hard wooden bed frame, and no hot water. When he questioned his fellow workers about these conditions, they replied, "You're only new here; you'll get used to it." The workers at that time had been conditioned to accept this lower standard of living, even though on mainland Australia such conditions were not acceptable. This is why Commissioner Sweetland described them as repugnant. Realising the realities of the living conditions impacted on his productivity at work, my dad joined the newly formed Union of Christmas Island Workers. One thing I admire greatly about my dad is that he will stand up against inequality and injustice. The union movement grew in momentum under the leadership of the late Gordon Bennett as union secretary. Together with my dad and others, they galvanised not only the workforce but also the whole community to achieve great victories that have left a lasting legacy in the lives of Christmas Islanders. They include wage parity with the mainland, citizenship rights, the right to own a home and improved working conditions. Ultimately, they fought and won the battle to ensure mining continued on the island, which was and continues to this day to be the main provider of jobs.
As I was growing up, I saw how my dad took up these fights and his determination to help people. I look back at how hard my dad worked, his leadership and all that he sacrificed, including time with the family, so that the community would have better lives and equal opportunities. Today I want to pay tribute to my dad, who taught me the enduring values of standing up for what is right and the power of what we can achieve when we come together in collective action against injustice. I also pay tribute to the late Gordon Bennett, to whom Christmas Islanders owe a great debt. These are not stories from a century ago; these are the lived experiences of my parents and of the generations that came even before them. Our life circumstances profoundly shape the way we see the world. They imprint on us the values that guide how we think, how we act and what we choose to fight for. From those early lessons, I learnt the value of solidarity and the strength of a community when it stands together. When it stands together under strong leadership, great things can be accomplished.
Another lesson my parents taught me while growing up was that in this country we can achieve much if we work hard. My parents showed me what it takes to pursue enterprise and create opportunities for ourselves and for others. While my dad is a force for enterprise and ideas, I learnt much of this from my mother. My mother, Lai Wai Ching, was born in Ipoh, in the Malaysian state of Perak. She migrated to Christmas Island with my father to seek a better life. Mum bought a small grocery store on Christmas Island, the kind of shop where the lights go on before sunrise and do not go off until after dark. Mum worked tirelessly. She worked long hours behind the counter and often longer hours behind the scenes. No matter how tired she was, we always came home to homecooked meals. Like most small business owners, my parents enlisted us kids. My brother, sister and I all took turns helping out—stacking shelves, cleaning and working the cash register during weekends and school holidays. They were lessons in work ethic and responsibility that no textbook could teach. Today I wish to pay tribute to my mother, who taught me the valuable lessons of hard work. Also, her compassion for people is something I admire and wish to emulate in my own life.
Bibra Lake is a community shaped by many stories like mine. Nearly half our residents have parents born overseas from Italian, Slavic, Balkan, Portuguese, Spanish and other migrant backgrounds. Many families came to Western Australia with the hope of building a new life. They have had to work as labourers and farmers. They have had to be enterprising to integrate into mainstream society. Their focus has also been on their children and the next generation and ensuring they get a good education. As we face a changing world with AI, new technologies and a changing global situation, a good quality education to prepare our children for the future is something that is desired not just by migrant families but by all. I was a recipient of a good quality education in WA, most of which I received in the electorate of Bibra Lake. I attended Murdoch University and completed a double degree in education and Asian studies. It was a perfect place for me to ground myself in the values of social justice, affirmative action and progressive beliefs. It was, for me, the place that encouraged lifelong learning and the curiosity to explore other cultures. It gave me the courage to challenge social norms that oppress and the sensitivity to recognise what was unjust. I am grateful that Murdoch University is situated in the electorate of Bibra Lake and I am proud to be part of the alumni.
After university, my career started as a secondary school teacher. I chose to become a teacher because I believed in the transformative power of education. Education, to me, is not simply about the transfer of knowledge; it is about preparing people for the future. It is about equipping individuals not just with facts and figures, but with the skills, values and resilience they need to navigate life's challenges and to contribute meaningfully to society. It is one of the few professions where you see in real time the growth of a person's confidence, the discovery of their potential and the spark of curiosity that can shape a lifetime. I always believed, and continue to believe, that learning is a lifelong journey. The role of a teacher is not to become the source of all knowledge but to facilitate that journey and to guide students to think critically, problem-solve and find their own voice. I often reflect on the good teachers I was fortunate to have in my life—those who did not just teach the curriculum but helped shape the person I am today.
One of the teachers who had a profound influence on me was my high school English teacher, Jenny Burton. She did not just teach us how to write essays or analyse text; she taught us how to think. She encouraged us to question what we saw around us, to look beyond the surface of things and to ask whether the norms and conventions we accept in society truly serve everyone. She helped me realise that just because something is widely accepted, it does not mean it is right. We as individuals have the power to challenge and change what no longer serves us as a community. Teachers have such an important role in our society. The profession has the influence to shape and create other professions. Our investment in teachers and the education system is an investment in the future of Western Australia that I will always support. I today wish to pay tribute to all teachers and educators for the work they do and will do to contribute to the fabric of our society.
My experiences have led me here today and shaped my determination to work tirelessly for a better future for my constituents in Bibra Lake and the people of Western Australia. Building a better future must start with protecting what is important to the people we are trying to help. In Bibra Lake, we are surrounded by marvellous wetlands that are important to the residents. The wetlands are not just a beautiful backdrop; they are living ecosystems and home to precious native wildlife, like the snake-necked turtles, whose very existence is now under threat from climate change, habitat loss and predation. If we are serious about leaving a better world for the next generation, we must invest in the people and organisations already doing the work to protect it. Local organisations in Bibra Lake, such as WA Wildlife and the Wetlands Centre, and our tireless local environmental action groups are at the front line of conservation, rehabilitation and land care. I look forward in my role and capacity to work with these groups in an effort to protect our precious wetlands.
(Member's time extended.)
Ms Sook Yee Lai: I believe that sustainability and prosperity are not opposing forces; they are interconnected. Our industries, businesses and workers depend on a stable and thriving environment, and we must work to get this balance right.
I have spoken a bit about history today, and I do like to take lessons out of history. However, I am excited about the future of this great state of Western Australia under the Cook Labor government. I am excited for the future opportunities for my electorate of Bibra Lake. Today, the electorate stands at the forefront of innovation, with a growing focus on renewable energy and sustainable industries. Home to 1,673 businesses, the Bibra Lake precinct is made up of large engineering firms, construction and transport firms, clean technology startups and leaders in recycling. The precinct is building a resilient local economy while working towards a cleaner, more prosperous future for Western Australians. Even the street names reflect the vision: Efficiency Way, Sustainable Avenue, Renewable Chase, Hydro Rise and Solar Pass. This demonstrates that in Bibra Lake environmental responsibility and economic growth can travel down the same road, preferably down Efficiency Way.
We are now living in what I believe is a golden age of economic opportunity for Western Australia. Our state is leading the country in economic performance, but opportunity alone is not enough. We must harness it. We must be bold enough to lift our eyes to the horizon and see the potential that lies in our region. Above us lies South-East Asia and the Indian Ocean economic rim, some of the fastest growing and most dynamic economies in the world, and we have something that is the envy of the country: we share the same time zone as those regions. It is not only a geographic fact; it is a strategic advantage. It means that we can build people-to-people connections, educational partnerships, innovative networks and business ties that are critical to our plans to establish our own manufacturing industries here in Western Australia. It means that we can be the bridge between Australia and the region not just through our resources but also through our people, our ideas and our institutions. We must continue to take advantage of our unique geographical position and our strategic resources, and we must drive the renewable energy transition. By doing these things we can secure a prosperous future for the people of Western Australia.
I look forward to being part of this Cook Labor government that drives policies and reforms that improve the state and the wellbeing of our people. However, I am cognisant that my role as the member for Bibra Lake must, first and foremost, be to serve my constituents. One of the greatest privileges of this campaign and of holding this office has been the opportunity to meet my constituents at their doorsteps. I want to share the story of a woman I met while doorknocking in Spearwood. She told me how she migrated to Perth at the age of 12 from Calabria, Italy, settling in what was then a quiet, rural part of our state. She married here and, alongside her husband, toiled on a small farm, sometimes with her young son strapped on her back as she worked the land. Through hard work and perseverance, they earned enough to build their own home and have a family and grandchildren. At 70 years of age, she reflected on her life of hard work raising a family, and she told me that she never received any support from government—not then and not now. With a hopeful voice, she said, "I just hope that now that I'm older, maybe there's something for our seniors." I told her about the WA Seniors Card, a small but meaningful support for older Western Australians. She had never heard of it. Through that interaction, I was able to assist her in applying for it. I learnt a lot during that conversation. I learnt that even the strongest and most independent among us still hope to be seen and to be supported. I learnt that, as a government, we must do better at reaching out and communicating that help is available. During my campaign I had many conversations at the door, and those conversations reminded me that government does not just live in policy documents or initiatives; it lives in the connections and in the way we make people feel heard. It is the voices like the voice of that grandmother in Spearwood that I carry into this chamber. They remind me why I am here and who I am here for.
I would like to conclude my address in this chamber. It is with deep humility that I know that I stand here not as an individual but as a proud member of the Labor Party and the broader labour movement. The Labor Party has always been a party of the people, and at the heart of this has been the union movement. It is a movement that has for generations stood shoulder to shoulder with working people, fighting for fairness, equality and opportunity. I know that when I stand in this place and serve my electorate, it is those values that will guide me.
As I reflect on the journey that has brought me here to this chamber, I am deeply conscious that no-one arrives in this place alone. Although I may not be able to name every person who supported me, I must acknowledge those whose belief, guidance and effort carried me to this moment. Hon Kate Doust, my campaign director, despite directing three other campaigns, worked hard to make sure mine would be a success. The other three were also a success. I thank her for her mentorship and guidance in my journey to this place. To Shane Hill, my campaign manager; WA Labor State Secretary Ellie Whiteaker; Assistant State Secretary Lauren Cayoun; my campaign organiser, Mark Fahey; and the campaign headquarters team, I say thank you for ensuring that my campaign would be as seamless as possible. To my union, the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association of WA, especially Ben Harris, I say thank you for your support and counsel. Hon Clive Brown, thank you. Your guidance over the years has been invaluable to my growth in this role. Hon Alannah MacTiernan, thank you for encouraging me to step into public life. Hon Warren Snowdon, thank you for being a role model of what it means to be a strident and fearless member of Parliament. To my brother, Christopher, thank you for your guidance and encouragement over the years. To my sister, Stephanie Lai, and brother-in-law, David Mulheron, thank you for travelling from Christmas Island to support my campaign. Your presence reminded me of the strength of family. To my mum and dad-in-law, Jennifer and John Gan, your support, whether in doorknocking or school pick-ups, has meant more than words can say. To my three beautiful children, Lauren, Sophia and Lucas, thank you for the joy and grounding you give me. And to my husband, Nick, your unwavering support and faith in me every step of the way has made this all very possible. Thank you for being my partner in every sense of the word. And finally, to my parents, Lai Ah Hong and Lai Wai Ching, your sacrifices, your hard work and your love gave me the foundation upon which I now stand. Everything I do in this place is a tribute to you.
I am proud to be part of the labour movement, which believes in dignity for working people, in compassion, in progress and in bold aspirations for the state of Western Australia. As I stand in this chamber, once a distant thought, I am reminded of the words of the poet Rumi:
You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.
That is what the labour movement taught me—that each of us, no matter where we came from and who we are, carries within us the power to shape our future and to shape a better world for others. Thank you.
(Applause.)
The Deputy Speaker: Can you please resume your seats. I give the call to the member for Cottesloe.
Ms Sandra Brewer (Cottesloe) (5:04 pm): Thank you, Acting Speaker.
The Deputy Speaker: Sorry; Deputy Speaker.
Ms Sandra Brewer: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. It is an incredible honour for me, a descendant of convicts and a girl who grew up on a dairy farm and was a student at a tiny Catholic school in a country town, to be elected to serve in the state's 42nd Parliament as the member for Cottesloe. I know that for my extended family of farmers, tradies and teachers, the reality of having a family member in the state Parliament is a source of great pride. I welcome all of my family and friends in the gallery today. Thank you for the support you have given me throughout my journey to get here.
My friends and family will tell you that seeking Liberal preselection for the seat of Cottesloe was inevitable for me, given my longstanding passion for Liberal Party values, my love for our beautiful western suburbs and my aspirations for Western Australia. To be here representing the people in what I believe to be the best place in Australia is the greatest honour I could have ever imagined.
My predecessors in the seat of Cottesloe—David Honey, Colin Barnett and Bill Hassell—all led the Liberal Party at some stage of their careers. Dr Honey faithfully served the Liberal Party at a very difficult time, and I thank him for his dedicated service. Colin Barnett AC held the seat of Cottesloe for 27 years and was Premier for nine years, from 2008 to 2017. His legacy can be seen everywhere in Perth and the regions, including Elizabeth Quay, Optus Stadium, Perth Children's Hospital, the Northbridge Link and throughout the regions in the many public infrastructure projects funded through royalties for regions. Bill Hassell AM, who is with us in the Speaker’s gallery, held the seat for 13 years and served as party leader from 1984 to 1986. An effective minister in the government of Sir Charles Court, he has been a friend to me and has provided strong guidance in my journey so far. I am conscious of the great weight of expectation on the Liberal member for Cottesloe and I will do my absolute best to live up to the achievements of my predecessors and the high expectations of constituents and party members.
I come to this place with a background in business. Economics and commerce have been passions throughout my life. I have had a fascination with markets—how humans structure and coordinate themselves to fulfil the needs of others. To me, business is a noble pursuit, because the companies that thrive are the ones that meet the needs of their customers, and the best businesses provide great public services.
After completing a commerce degree at UWA, I kicked off my career in marketing at Masters Dairy. You are looking at the person responsible for introducing the costumed Masters cows! For nine years I worked for the global food manufacturer Mars Confectionery, holding global marketing roles overseeing R&D, packaging, manufacturing, logistics and advertising. It was a demanding role that taught me the values necessary to build a culture of success. For a decade, I ran my own marketing consulting business working with organisations across Western Australian industry, including mining services, education, construction and professional services.
My 30 years in the private sector taught me that no business is assured of enduring financial security. Business owners who invest their own money do not do it with a guarantee of return. Profit is something that needs to be considered in the context of losses. Every business that is making a substantial profit has likely faced losses and the owner has made substantial sacrifices. Putting your own money on the line, working incredibly long hours and sacrificing family and personal time to achieve your dreams is a very brave thing to do. Private enterprise is the key to prosperity for all Western Australians. Only private enterprise creates the economic value that sustains all of our public services.
As Liberals, we believe that private enterprise is best placed to make decisions on how it serves its customers or consumers and that a free market provides the necessary rewards for businesses that serve them well and failure for those who do not. Most Western Australians are not weak or victims in need of the hand of big brother to protect them from economic harm. Often, regulatory intervention causes a range of flow-on effects that are worse than the problem the government first set out to solve. We see this time and again, such as with retirement village operators who have been forced to provide a financial windfall benefit to residents, more than their existing contract entitlements. This populist measure is risking the viability of operators at exactly the time we need greater investment in retirement villages for our ageing population. We see this in the towing industry, with honest mum-and-dad operators having been provided mandated fee schedules, reducing their income by many times over and destroying their accumulated goodwill and capital investment in trucks. We see this even in pet shops, with honest business owners who sold beloved puppies to local families having seen their business model destroyed by unnecessary regulation. I understand that measures have been put in place to weed out unscrupulous operators, but these one-size-fits-all regulations cause immeasurable damage to decent family-run businesses that do the right thing. We can do better, and we need to consider more carefully whether the fix has worse outcomes than the original problem. The most blatant example of market interference is the brutal closing down of our live sheep industry, which has the highest standards of animal welfare and export processes, by a federal Labor government to pander to inner urban voters who have never set foot on a farm. It is unfair to our farming communities, and I stand with them.
We have a housing crisis in this state, and far too often the blame is laid at the door of building companies. The truth is that, over decades, successive governments have collectively harmed housing affordability by adding layers of regulation, limiting the operation of builders by demanding reporting and compliance for every aspect of home construction.
As Liberals, we must not only oppose new layers of regulation but also seek to dismantle unproductive requirements that are costly and onerous. After being an avid follower of policymaking across decades, I am convinced that most members on the other side of this place simply do not understand business. If they did have even the slightest understanding of business, they would have known that maintaining the government's Metronet program whilst the resources sector was booming was bound to result in a squeeze on limited resources, with someone losing out, and, of course, we know it is builders and their customers who have paid the price. Builders have been driven out of the industry due to soaring costs caused by exorbitant public spending, a lack of workers due to labour demand in road and rail projects and Mark McGowan's myopic first decision as Premier to remove skilled workers from the migration list. Labor ministers have become fluent in the language of business, having learnt key expressions like "streamlined and efficient approvals". But they typically fail to truly deliver these outcomes to taxpayers. They throw up roadblocks and barriers from behind the safety of a regular pay packet. They have no understanding of what havoc their unnecessary intervention and over-regulation wreaks on hardworking Western Australian businesses.
I have a firsthand experience of this bureaucratic bloody-mindedness at the conclusion of the COVID pandemic. My husband was trapped out of the state away from his family for nine weeks, having travelled to visit his dying mother in New South Wales. A self-employed builder, he could not work to support our family, and he sadly missed Christmas with his three sons. In early 2022, the idea that this was for public health reasons was a falsehood. The closed borders were kept in place because it was “a very popular policy”. They are not my words; they are the messages given by a well-placed Labor adviser to a frustrated director of a high-profile WA company who was trying to lead an Australian business from its Perth headquarters. There was simply no appreciation that these arbitrary rules would cause severe economic damage to the self-employed and to businesses that could not move workers around the country. It is not until one has faced a month or two of zero income or has had to take out a loan to provide cash flow for one's business that one can surely appreciate the sacrifice of a business owner.
By now members will have a sense of my passion for business and disdain for overreaching regulation and unjustifiable bureaucracy. As shadow Treasurer, I will closely monitor the state budget to ensure the government delivers high-quality public services at the lowest possible cost to taxpayers. I want to be part of a future government that prioritises value for money, drives productivity and efficiency and bases decisions on transparent, honest cost-benefit analysis. Western Australians deserve a government that serves the public and supports, not competes with, private enterprise and avoids costly vanity projects with questionable returns.
As I said at the outset, it is the greatest of privileges to represent the people of Cottesloe in this Parliament. I use those words advisedly because although the physical geography along the coast from North Fremantle to City Beach is extraordinary, I firmly believe it is the people of the electorate who make Cottesloe so special. Of course the people of Cottesloe cherish their lifestyle, and by "cherish" I mean they genuinely appreciate that they have the privilege of living within walking and pedalling distance of Perth's best beaches. They are grateful for the smell of the ocean breeze, eucalyptus trees, Norfolk Pines and good coffee. They love our iconic watering holes, the Cottesloe Beach Hotel, the Ocean Beach Hotel and many others along the beach, and the many great restaurants and shopping areas. They cherish boating and fishing on the beautiful Swan River. They cherish their family, friends and neighbours in the truest sense of community. Family connections reach back decades, and the Australian values of freedom, entrepreneurialism and service to the community and nation are the bedrock on which the Cott lifestyle is built.
From one end of the electorate to the other, people are committed to giving up their time to volunteer at our local schools, to help charities, church groups and clubs, including surf clubs, golf clubs, yacht clubs, sporting clubs and the West Australian Bridge Club. Within our boundaries are community bushcare groups that work to maintain and expand remnant bushland, fauna and flora for the benefit of future generations. Volunteers from these groups plant and weed and water. They clear bins of garbage along the Swan River to ensure it does not end up in the river. They do it because they love the natural habitat and they believe in taking responsibility for the work that needs to be done.
Of course, the area is home to many high achievers in a diverse range of fields, and I celebrate their success. They work and study hard, and they pass on their values to their children to do the same. Far from being a stereotype of an enclave for the wealthy, the Cottesloe electorate includes a large number of social houses, retirement villages and old aged-care facilities, pensioners and students, immigrant families and everyday working people. Young families, with working mums and dads and kids in day care, are making great homes of the modest villas, townhouses and apartments. The charm of our suburbs is that everyone treats each other as an equal, and everyone is welcome to participate. As one local said to me, when you are in your budgie smugglers for a 6:00 am swim with the squad, no-one cares if you are a Supreme Court judge or a surfie.
Cities are not preserved in aspic; they are everchanging and growing, and the electorate of Cottesloe is currently experiencing rapid change as the age demographic shifts and more people seek to move in to take advantage of the enviable lifestyle. We all know that planning for a growing population in the western suburbs has been a fraught issue, with sky-high tension and controversy. I am, as people in this chamber would know, in the unique position of having spent six years before entering Parliament as the executive director of the Property Council of Australia, WA division. I have a professional understanding of development and planning policy, and I am passionate about it. Often it is said that people who live in the western suburbs are anti-development or NIMBYs. That is not a word I have ever used as it is intellectually lazy, and it is insulting to pigeonhole people who simply care about their homes, neighbourhoods and local amenities.
From knocking on thousands of doors and listening to locals, I know that the real problem is a lack of clarity and predictability about the future for our suburbs. Until now, Perth's growth has been relatively easy, but we all know it has been achieved by clearing native bushland to continue to expand our city limits. We have now reached a point in time at which Perth's growth has become much harder. Climate change, questions around energy requirements, conservation and accessibility to workplaces, transport options, housing and rental costs all feed into the equation. "Infill" has become a toxic word that conjures up tree destruction and beautiful places and spaces filled with concrete. However, in the Cottesloe electorate, our infrastructure is from another century. Our roads are congested and our train crossings are dangerous. My vision is for a sophisticated planning system that invests in our road and rail infrastructure to provide for our growing population, facilitating opportunities for more housing, bushland connections and greenbelts surrounded by low and medium density, and—yes—in some places, high-rise accommodation. This is what past Liberal governments have delivered at Perry Lakes, Leighton and Claremont Oval, and we can do that again. I believe in genuinely integrated government-led planning solutions. I look at what has been achieved in East Perth, where low-to-medium-density development has been beautifully integrated to connect with both the city and the Swan River, and I wonder why this could not be the case along the Fremantle to Perth railway line. The Labor government has opted for a developer-led model, which has resulted in high density towers in unexpected locations. The abolition of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority has been a backward step. The Metropolitan Region Improvement Fund is a tax paid by landowners. Where is it being spent to improve inner metropolitan traffic congestion and archaic infrastructure?
Infrastructure WA recommended reviewing and adjusting policy settings to support livability and amenity improvements in infill locations. Labor's prioritisation of Metronet with gold-plated station infrastructure at the urban fringes of our city has been to the exclusion of addressing genuine congestion issues in inner urban locations.
(Member's time extended.)
Ms Sandra Brewer: In the Cottesloe electorate, we see this at the Victoria Street railway crossing in Mosman Park, the Queenslea Drive intersection with Stirling Highway in Claremont, the Eric Street Bridge in Cottesloe and many other bottlenecks. We can do a lot better. We can develop wonderful spaces on a scale acceptable to existing residents that achieve higher density while still maintaining a sense of community, and we can infill greenery right along with people. I strongly believe in transit-orientated development. My ideal would be to sink the railway line that divides the Cottesloe electorate and use the space above it to build the sorts of developments that bring people together. We see these things when we go overseas, when we catch the underground in Paris or London or New York and come up to street level to find thriving and vibrant communities. My aspiration is that everyone understands and the majority supports a vision for the Cottesloe electorate, whereby young couples in their 20s and 30s can hope to own a home near where they grew up and send their children to the same schools they attended.
We know that outside the electorate, Cottesloe is known for our iconic beach. Ask interstate or overseas visitors what they want to do during their time in Perth and they will inevitably say, "I want to go to Cottesloe Beach." It is the first thing that Bruce Springsteen does when he comes to town. It is unfathomable to me that the Cottesloe foreshore has not been able to attract the sort of makeover funding from state and federal governments that has been afforded Scarborough and even Yanchep. In survey after survey, Cottesloe Beach ranks as one of Perth's top tourist destinations, yet for years now the local council's foreshore master plan has yet to receive support. The project, which would upgrade and beautify the stretch of Marine Parade between Forrest and Napier Streets, is fully documented and shovel-ready and would be enhanced by an underground car park for visitors at the relatively low cost of $30 million. Fixing the Cottesloe foreshore should be this government's number one tourism priority. It is not a matter of spending that money for the benefit of a handful of wealthy western suburbs residents, but the benefit of thousands of Western Australians and interstate and international visitors who go to the beach every year to see this iconic place and leave disappointed with the shabbiness of what they find. Its neglect is a stain on our reputation as a prosperous, forward-looking state. I urge the government to put aside petty parochial politics and fix the foreshore.
During the election campaign, I was attacked for my role with the Property Council of Australia by an opponent who had no vision for the future and just wanted to instil fear, and, quite frankly, spread falsehoods and misrepresent my aspirations for the electorate—a person who claimed to represent the community but was unable or unwilling to say on what basis she was selected to be the latest so-called Independent. In contrast, I was selected by hundreds of members of the Liberal Party from the Cottesloe community in an open and transparent process. I put my reasons for wanting to represent the electorate to my peers and they saw fit to preselect me. I am forever grateful to them.
I have been blessed with good friends who have been there for me throughout the decades. I am lucky the Iona boarders adopted me in their friendship group and I treasure their generous support. My best friend Michelle Drinkwater has been a constant source of encouragement, pushing me to believe in myself. I would not be here without her. Thanks too to Nick Warland and Emily Young, my Sunday fitness girls, the "famous five" and the Tommy More crew.
I am so proud of the campaign team that came together to help me with the election in Cottesloe, starting with the persuasive pair who encouraged me to nominate, Danielle Blain AM and Angus Murray; the most motivating campaign managers around, Sophie Dwyer and Harmon McAulley; the most connected community engagement manager, Jessamy Mahony; and the best team ever, Steve Meerwald, Rose Scott, Ryan Fernandes and Ben Christianopoulos. Thank you, team, and thanks to the Liberal Party members in the Curtin division who volunteered so enthusiastically to support my campaign. The head office team of Simon Morgan, Jesse Wotton, Lilly Rosich and the crew were a wonderful resource for me. They do a great job.
I need to share a little about my early life that so shaped who I am and why I decided to take this leap from the security of a well-paid job, regular hours and a wonderful family life into this high-wire act of politics. Growing up on a dairy farm in the South West might seem like an idyllic childhood, but, for me, it was boring. The isolation was difficult for what mattered to me as a teenage girl, which was shopping and a social life, but I did have plenty of fun with my younger sister and two younger brothers building camp fires in the paddock, riding motorbikes and catching gilgies. It gave me an appreciation for the work of farmers who have a deep care for their livestock and a 24/7 commitment to the operation of the farm. Farmers literally work around the clock. The right to disconnect in section 333M of the Fair Work Act featuring no after-hours contact does not apply to farmers. They are always on call.
My mum and dad gave me and my siblings every opportunity, even though sometimes we faced financial difficulties. Caravan park holidays in Mandurah or Busselton were a major event. Regular shopping trips to Perth on the Australind train are another treasured memory, with the opportunity to buy the new season's clothing from what was to me the most glamorous location in the world—Perth's Hay Street Mall. My primary schooling at the tiny Our Lady of Lourdes School in Dardanup was followed by high school at Bunbury Catholic College, and the nuns, priests and teachers all instilled genuine Catholic values of compassion and service and provided inspiration for my career ahead. Studying commerce at the University of Western Australia and staying at St Thomas More residential college provided some of the best years of my life as I finally had the social experience that I craved.
My safe family environment was shattered on 27 November 1997, when my dad was killed while working for Main Roads. He had taken on contract work to supplement unpredictable farm income and was struck by a reversing grader on the Old Coast Road. My siblings were aged 20, 18 and 14. It is really difficult to put into words the effect of a tragedy like this on a family, so I am not going to try here today. Mum suffered the greatest loss, losing her loving life partner, her friend, her rock. But we had each other, and I am pleased and proud to say that, tragic and life altering in some respects as it was, it did not destroy us or our family.
I believe it is the power of faith, love and resilience that was instilled by my parents that enabled me and my siblings to thrive despite the many challenges that came along. I admire what they have done with their lives and I love my siblings Amanda Harris, Andrew Harris and George Harris and their partners and children. My mum remains my closest ally, my biggest fan and a politics tragic. I hope she will continue to message me during question time and provide support, which I so truly value. My extended family has also shaped who I am: Mum's four sisters, who taught me how to be a strong woman; my nanna and grandad, whose modest lives made me appreciate my blessings; and my grandad who fought in the Middle East and Papua New Guinea in World War II, who made me understand Australian values are worth defending at any cost.
The smartest decision I made in my life was to marry Ralph Brewer. Ralph is a patient supporter and a thoroughly modern man who cares for our children in the household and has abundant empathy to help me through the challenges I have taken on. Together we have been blessed with three boys, Connor, Aidan and Kieran. We have lived in many homes, but we are happy in our little home in Cottesloe, gathering around the table nearly every night to talk about the day's events and nightly news. Boys, thank you in advance for what you will endure—all the drama and embarrassment of a mum who is a politician. I love you all very much.
Finally, I wish to touch briefly on the opportunity for Western Australia in the AUKUS project. I have spoken at length today of the enviable lifestyle people enjoy in my electorate, in our state and in Australia generally. In today's uncertain world, it is a lifestyle that I believe we would struggle to defend against a determined and well-armed adversary. It is not surprising that both major parties at the federal level have committed to AUKUS as the cornerstone of Australia's future defence capabilities. If fully realised, the acquisition of eight nuclear-powered submarines will go a long way to correcting what many commentators currently see as a serious vulnerability. It is a massive project, far beyond the scale of anything Australia has attempted previously, and for it to succeed we will have to put aside partisan politics and work together to achieve what is best for our country and our state, and I look forward to doing just that.
Deputy Speaker, I was drawn to the ideals of the Liberal Party by the likes of Sir Charles Court, who had the vision to see what the state could become and the boldness to act on that vision. We cannot lose sight of the fact that Western Australia's wealth derives largely from mining, resources, construction and agriculture. All of those economic pillars have come under attack in recent years from people who believe we can get along without them. Respectfully, I disagree, and as shadow Treasurer, I am committed to providing oversight of a responsible state budget that delivers quality services efficiently, ensures value for money and supports private enterprise over wasteful spending.
I want to express my gratitude to the people of North Fremantle, Mosman Park, Peppermint Grove, Cottesloe, Claremont, Swanbourne, Mount Claremont and City Beach for their trust, and I faithfully pledge to serve our community. I want to thank members on both sides of this house for the friendliness they have shown to me since the election. I am also grateful to Parliament House officials for their help and guidance. I look forward to working closely with you all. Thank you.
(Applause.)
Mr Rhys Williams (Mandurah) (5:35 pm): Deputy Speaker, I am very proud to begin my inaugural address today by acknowledging the Noongar people whose land we are meeting on, particularly those of the Bindjareb people, whose land my electorate sits on. Kaya, nun juripan nun nidga, gnarla kudich noongar moort, kayan kadad nidja boodja. My heart is happy that I am here today and I acknowledge that we are here on Noongar land. I acknowledge Aboriginal elders past and present, Madam Deputy Speaker, including my close friend and Bindjareb elder Uncle George Wally, who is here today. It means a lot to me that he is here. I give my gratitude to George and First Nations people for their generous sharing of culture and kadijan, knowledge, and I commit myself as a member of this place to walking alongside our First Nations people of my electorate and all First Nations people towards a future defined by hope, opportunity and reconciliation.
I live and have grown up on the lands of the Bindjareb people, the river people of the Noongar boodja. The contemporary name of Mandurah derives from the Noongar word "Mandjoogoordap"—"mandjoo" means meeting place and "goordup" means meeting place of the heart. If members have travelled along Forrest Highway, they would have seen this name before, as it is the name of the entry statement to my electorate. As an elder once said to me, "It's a big name with a big meaning." The meeting place of the heart, Mandjoogoordap, has for millennia been a special meeting place where people have come from all parts of the Noongar nation for occasions of significance and special moments to meet, celebrate, trade and share knowledge. It was and remains today a special meeting place. That past and the stories that accompany it have been so graciously shared by Bindjareb people, and they also exist deep in the culture of the community that we today call Mandurah.
Deputy Speaker, it is with a deep sense of humility that I stand in this place today as the fourth person to be elected to represent the seat of Mandurah; three of whom represented the Labor Party. I acknowledge my friend Hon David Templeman, who is here this evening and about whom I will have plenty more to say shortly. I also acknowledge another friend, Mr John Read, who was the first member for Mandurah, a Labor member elected in 1983, and Mr Roger Nicholls, who served Mandurah from 1989 to 2001. I am proud and grateful to take up the office as member for Mandurah and for the trust vested in me by a community that I love and have called home since I was nine. I am proud to stand here as a member of the WA Labor Party and I am deeply honoured to be serving as a member of the Cook Labor government. I will reflect on this more throughout my address.
I am also proud to stand here as one of the many members in this place who have previously served at the local government level. Madam Deputy Speaker, it was an honour to have served my community in elected office three times prior to becoming a member of this place. Firstly, as a local government councillor in 2009. Then, aged 29, I was elected Mayor of the City of Mandurah in 2017. I was gratefully re-elected to that role in 2021. I come to this place with a deep respect for local government and the people who put up their hands to serve at the local level, closest to our community, and the officers who work, often in challenging circumstances, to deliver critical services and infrastructure. Most people in local government are good people who believe in service and civic contribution, and we should not allow the poorly behaved few who, from time to time, rise to office to set the reputation for a sector that is so critical to the good governance of our communities.
Madam Deputy Speaker, it seems to be customary for an inaugural address to begin with a little reflection on one's backstory, so let me start at the beginning. I am a born and bred Western Australian, born at Bentley Hospital. I am the son of a builder in Geraldton and a healthcare worker born at King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, the grandson of a butcher and a childcare worker, a disability support worker and what I think today could be referred to as a fauna control officer—a roo shooter. Before we moved to Mandurah, my home was in my colleague, the member for Thornlie's, electorate. We relocated to the southern suburbs of Mandurah in 1997. My parents are here today. I am very grateful to them both for their love and support throughout my life. In 1988, the year I entered the world, they were 19 and 20 years old. I have on occasion reminded them of the living proof that sometimes the best things in life are those that are unplanned. As an adult, I reflect on the courage it must have taken for two people so young to raise a child and the sacrifices I know they both made to provide the opportunities to me that they have done throughout my life. Both my parents exemplify the principles of hard work and being authentic and generous. They both, in their own ways, have role-modelled these principles to me my entire life and I am very grateful to them for all that they have done.
I am incredibly grateful to be the fortunate brother of my siblings, Aaron, Elizabeth and Annie. In 1994, having lived the rather indulgent life of an only child for my first six years, things changed forever upon the birth of my younger brother. I joke with him of resenting the restructuring of attention that came with his arrival, but the truth is I have been very grateful to share a bond as brothers with him ever since. He and his wife, Olivia, who is a sister to me now, have delivered to our family great joy in my two nephews. Harry, who is here today, and little Arthur. Being an uncle to them is one of the most joyous roles of my life. Later in life, my brother and I were joined by our two sisters, Elizabeth and Annie. Though we are separated by a generation in age and that is something that they cheekily point out often, I am grateful that we share a close relationship.
They could not be here this evening, but I am proud of them for the young women that they are. I count myself very lucky to have such loving and supportive grandparents. All have played a significant role in my life, along with my extended family of aunties and uncles and cousins. Much of my childhood was filled with family time, weekends at Nan and Pop's beach house down at Preston Beach, camping trips to Denmark on the Easter holidays, and saving pocket money for the Royal Show. I am acutely aware of how fortunate I have been to have the upbringing I have had with my working-class family, whereby I learnt directly from them the values of hard work, fairness, and compassion for others. It is easy as adults to forget, I think, that it is these moments of childhood as much as any other that define our values and principles. Importantly, this serves as a reminder to me of our collective responsibility as communities, and as members in this place, of being a village to those children and young people in our community who do not have the same privileges of a roof over their head and a support network as I have had growing up. For the love and support and encouragement and wisdom of my family, I am most grateful.
I am proud to stand here as one of the many members of this place who have been the beneficiary of a public education. I had great teachers, teachers who would go above and beyond and who understood the honoured and important role of their responsibilities in shaping the future generations. One of those teachers is here today. I am also married to a public school teacher and I see the wholehearted investment of time, energy, care and emotion that goes into that job. It is unrelenting and is as complicated and complex as quantum physics. During my time in this place, I will be an advocate for continuous improvement in our schools and a champion for our public education system. After school I was supported by mentors to set up a not-for-profit organisation with the purpose of lifting aspiration and leadership opportunities for young Western Australians. I led this organisation for a decade. Our teams worked with local governments, government agencies, community organisations, schools and the private sector and delivered projects aimed at building a more aspirant culture among WA's young people. It was meaningful work and it showed me the immense capacity of young people when you give them a voice and a problem to solve.
I want to talk a little bit about the place that I am now fortunate enough to call my home and the community that I am now proud to represent in this place. The story of Mandurah is one of constant change and transformation. What once was a fishing village and a tourist town is, today, a vibrant city, home to a population of 100,000 people and host to hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Mandurah has two defining characteristics that have shaped it over the passage of time, characteristics that sit as the foundations of a community that has a rich past behind it and an exciting future ahead of it. Firstly, it is a community that is woven both geographically and culturally by its waterways. At its eastern border, the Peel–Harvey estuary, or its ancient name, Djilba, has provided lifestyle, prosperity and joy to the populations of this area for generations. The Indian Ocean is to the west, with great beaches for fishing, four-wheel driving, swimming and surfing. Throughout the region, are the Yalgorup wetlands, the largest wetland system in the south west of Australia, hosting hundreds of thousands of migratory birds each year and providing a home to local fauna. These waterways and wetlands collectively make up Ramsar site 482, an internationally recognised system protected under the Ramsar Convention of 1971.
In the late 19th and 20th centuries, Mandurah was known for being home to an enterprising fish canning industry. From the 1930s onwards, Mandurah's story was defined by beach shacks in the dunes of Silver Sands and Falcon, and weekend and school holiday trips to local caravan parks for crabbing and fishing, and Sunday sessions at the Peninsula Hotel, which I am reliably told was the first pub in Western Australia to have beer on tap. As this small town grew into a city with a vibrant population of locals and visitors, even today you will hear the central choice for people deciding to call this place home or to visit is the waterways and the local environment. I am reminded daily of the beauty of those natural assets and the importance of those assets to our local lifestyle and economy. But I am also reminded of the vulnerability that these assets face from the threat of climate change—from coastal erosion to the system debilitating impacts of reduced rainfall on the Yalgorup wetland systems. These examples of vulnerability, I know, are matched by examples in electorates represented by others in this place and, indeed, Parliaments across the world. These examples serve as critical reminders of our collective responsibility for continued enduring action on that front. I am proud to be on the side of politics that seeks to take practical and collaborative approaches to addressing these challenges head on. The second defining characteristic that Mandurah people often speak of with pride is a deep and enduring spirit of community. It is a city now of 100,000 people, but the sense of community vibrancy is more reflective of a small town or a village. It is a community that celebrates together, that supports each other during the tough times and that stands together for the things that it believes in. From time to time we may display a hint of parochialism, particularly by those who refer to us as part of metropolitan Perth. Don't get me wrong—we love our big neighbour to the north, but Mandurah people are clear about our non-metropolitan status. We are protective of our identity, which is wrapped up in our history and our culture. I want to acknowledge the many thousands of residents who are champions of this great spirit. We are fortunate to have an active culture of volunteerism, a vibrant small business community, and residents who look out for each other, are proud of their city and work to make it a great place to live every day.
I think it is important to reflect that in Mandurah's biggest moments of the last few decades, it has been a WA Labor government that has catalysed change and invested in the transformative projects that have helped the community to grow. It was Labor Premier Peter Dowding who approved the plans and Premier Carmen Lawrence who oversaw the construction of the Dawesville Channel. It was a monumental intervention that is still recognised today as one of WA's largest ever engineered responses to an environmental crisis. The channel arrested the systemic decline of the Peel–Harvey estuary and kicked off decades of growth and opportunity for the region. It was Alannah MacTiernan and David Templeman and a WA Labor government that built the Mandurah train line, opening a world of new opportunities to residents, including those who previously may have had to limit their life goals or aspirations, but who now can aspire to loftier heights. Soon these same residents will be able to jump on that very same train and travel all the way to the electorate of Butler for less than the cost of a Mars bar. Today, if you find yourself in Mandurah, you will see something remarkable. After decades of frustration and inaction, the longstanding bottlenecks on our very strangely configured three-lane bridge, which reliably clogs up every single morning, are finally being addressed. A major duplication project is now well underway and is set to ease the daily grind for the thousands of people travelling from Mandurah suburbs each day. I call it the "Lisa Munday Bridge" and it is being delivered by the WA Labor government. I reflect on this not for indulgence, but to simply acknowledge the high expectations that the Mandurah electorate holds for its representatives and the very high benchmark set by those who have served the Mandurah community in this place. Accordingly, I commit myself to these same standards and to being part of a WA Labor government that delivers for the community, and I understand that that delivery first and foremost starts with the delivery of the Peel Health Campus transformation. I have heard loudly and clearly that this is the major priority for the community, and I am proud that this is going to be a project delivered by this government.
I am sure others will agree with me that one of the most humbling parts of the campaign season is the conversations at the doors. Spurred on by the example set by a formidable doorknocker, the member for Perth, I admit to, at first, being somewhat apprehensive about it all. Like other members, though, soon I found a groove and it became a highlight of the campaign journey. I thank the many hundreds of local residents who so willingly and graciously shared their stories of hard work, achievement, success, heartache, good luck, bad luck, vulnerability and generosity. I was reminded daily of the resilience of people, the good that exists in our communities, the strength and the generosity of those just doing life.
I was particularly struck, though, by how these stories differed so often depending on geography. I would hear stories of opportunity and of aspiration and hope in some areas of the electorate, whilst in others the consistent themes were of hardship, complexity and despair. The unequal distribution of these stories was confronting. We live in both abundant and challenging times, and as our Premier reminded us today, Western Australia is home to the strongest economy in the nation. That is no accident; it is the result of careful planning, hard work, collaboration and the commitment of generations of Western Australians.
Yet let us be clear—in this era of abundance, we know that opportunity and prosperity has not reached every corner equally. The challenge of growing economic inequality is, of course, a global one, but it is not one that we have escaped here in WA. Today in Western Australia, a person in the top 20% of the income scale lives in a household with almost six times the income of someone living in the bottom 20%. In my own electorate of Mandurah, often described as a tale of two cities, that patchwork of economy is some of the starkest in Western Australia. Economic stability varies dramatically across the electorate and correlating with that are the same dramatic variances in living standards, health outcomes and educational attainment, just to name a few.
It is not a matter of political ideology, Madam Deputy Speaker, but a statement of fact that greater economic equality makes stronger societies. We know that true freedom starts with economic opportunity. What freedom looks like is different for everyone, but almost always, at the heart of it all, it begins with the ability to secure a job, build a future and to shape a life of dignity and purpose. Of all the reasons that I am excited and proud to stand here as a member of the Premier's Labor team, it is the vision for creating economic opportunity for all people, but particularly for those who are at risk of being left behind, that makes me the most proud.
Firstly, on that point, I want to spend a moment reflecting on the government's fee-free TAFE program—an absolute game changer for enabling social mobility and economic freedom. I previously had the opportunity to serve as chair of the South Metropolitan TAFE governing council, and I acknowledge both that TAFE and all of our TAFEs in the work that they are doing. I witnessed firsthand the positive impacts that this program is having on the lives of those who are signing up and the sense of pride, responsibility and self-belief that access to this training is instilling.
(Member's time extended.)
Mr Rhys Williams: Giving people access to skills and training at no cost is a powerful way to create real opportunity, particularly for young people, those people who are transitioning or those who have historically been excluded from the economic mainstream. I am confident that in the years ahead, these people will talk about the fee-free TAFE program as a defining moment in their life and one they were able to build new opportunities from.
Significantly, thanks to the Made in WA plan to make more things here and other economic reforms being put forward by the Cook Labor Government, those same Western Australians will be able to benefit from fee-free TAFE and then have greater access to meaningful and secure jobs across the width and breadth of the supply chains, bringing all the benefits that this entails, both to the individual and our communities. I believe fostering a more equal society is about fairness, but it is also fundamental to our economic growth and social stability. More equal societies are healthier, happier and safer societies. What could be more important than that? This is such an exciting time for Western Australia, but we must be vigilant. We must seek to ensure that these opportunities provide for and uplift everybody, and I am really proud to be part of a team that understands this challenge, embraces it and seeks to make a real difference in the lives of people who otherwise might miss out.
Madam Deputy Speaker, it is now appropriate for me to reflect on the service of my predecessor, Hon David Templeman. People in this place who know the honourable former member will sympathise with me that it is difficult to know where to begin. First on the matter, I confide in the house that I am relieved. I have known the honourable member, he says, since I was 12. I am not sure that it has been that long, but shall we say some time? We have worked closely in that time and shared many a good laugh. He has been a mentor, a role model, a confidant and a friend.
So when I say I am relieved, I am sure members are wondering what I mean by that. It is a funny choice to describe a moment like this. Well, my sense of relief is based on the fact that the end of his parliamentary career was of his own choosing and not, as at times it felt, an inevitability in this era of political correctness: a case of being cancelled. I cannot tell members the number of times that I would observe with amusement and sometimes trepidation, along with the member for Dawesville, the former member arriving to events dressed in outrageous costumes, singing outrageous songs with offensive lines that almost no one, save maybe the late Sir Les Patterson would have gotten away with. I wondered to myself, does this guy's boss know what he does when he is back in his electorate?
I recall one event, the 50th anniversary of the Mandurah District Ladies Darts Association, when the member was asked to sing a song to mark this most important milestone. It was a sight. I will not repeat the lines, Madam Deputy Speaker, because you would, I am sure, say that it was most unparliamentary. Although, I did get a video of it just in case I needed an insurance policy. These lines were outrageous and offensive. And what did these ladies do? Were they offended? Did they complain against the behaviour? Did they shake their heads and complain on social media about the offensive minister of the WA government? No, they did not. They erupted into thunderous applause. They cheered and they whistled and they sang along to the song's outrageous chorus at the top of their lungs. It was 11:00 am at the Halls Head Bowling Club, and you could be mistaken for thinking you were front row at a Beatles concert.
Of course, despite the fact that the former member is not actually aware of what TikTok is, let us not forget the time the end-of-year song that he sung to this place reached viral status on the platform and was viewed by thousands of people across the world. He was heralded as a hero. I take this opportunity to declare to the house that the era of annual parliamentary proceedings being wrapped up in song by the member for Mandurah is an era now firmly behind us.
With all that being said, it would, of course, be an absolute injustice to allow this wonderful man's time in office to be defined by these more colourful moments. David Templeman has served his community and the state of Western Australia with distinction. Most of all, at a time when it is becoming all too common in politics across the world that to be successful in politics, members have to be aggressive, divisive and nasty, playing the man, not the ball, David Templeman's greatest contribution may be the example that he set: that someone can be successful in politics by always choosing the road of kindness, compassion and seeking to understand before seeking to be understood, to build bridges and to empathise and compromise and care. This legacy is in itself worth our gratitude.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I will now take the opportunity to give my thanks to those who I give most credit for the fact that I am standing in this place. Firstly, thanks to my campaign director, Hon David Templeman, and to Claudia Bakitch, Larissa, Shelly, Dan Wilkins, Matthew Rogers and the many volunteers who worked tirelessly in the months leading up to the election—a special thankyou to Claudia, who really went above and beyond. I am also very grateful, and give a big thankyou to my mate, the member for Dawesville, who was on the other end of the phone at least once a day offering—she is gone—her support and a listening ear so freely.
I also acknowledge WA Labor State Secretary Ellie Whiteaker and her WA Labor team for an outstanding campaign and Hon Fred Riebeling, Hon John Cowdell, the Speaker of this place and the President of the other place for their mentorship and support. To Steve Darcy and the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, thank you for your relentless work in shaping a fairer society; I am proud to be associated with your movement. I thanked my parents and my family earlier, but I thank my in-laws also, who are here this evening, for their support and their love. I also thank others who have so willingly supported me as mentors and coaches. I thank the former mayor of Mandurah, Paddi Creevey OAM, who has been a constant source of wisdom and guidance over more than a decade, and I thank my friend Peter Kenyon, who taught me about community and leadership.
I consider myself very fortunate to be able to call on the mentorship and wisdom of a couple of WA Labor giants. One of them, David Templeman, I have already thanked. The other, Hon Alannah MacTiernan, is here this evening. Thank you for always being a phone call away, for your enduring belief over many years, and for your support and advice. I want to thank the Premier of WA, Roger Cook, for the opportunity to serve as a member of his team. I am very grateful to serve alongside such a values-driven leader. And I thank the members of cabinet and my caucus colleagues for so willingly helping me to learn the ropes.
Finally, I want to thank and acknowledge my wife, Skipper. Madam Deputy Speaker, I am very fortunate to be married to my best friend. We met a decade ago in a job interview. She got the job, she would say, for a measly 20 bucks an hour! We live in Mandurah, our home, spending any free time we have enjoying the Mandurah lifestyle, being at the beaches and on the waterways. Skip is an educator, teaching year 4 and 5 students at Falcon Primary School—incidentally the primary school that we both went to. I am lucky to have her in my life. She is my teammate, my best friend, my partner in crime. She keeps me humble, and while I do not think thank you is quite enough, I am deeply grateful.
Madam Deputy Speaker, as is well understood by members of this place, we live in a time of great opportunity but also of great complexity. Many Western Australians are doing really well, but also some are doing it really tough. This is the nature of societies. It does not escape me that the good work of government in shaping a brighter future for all people is work that is never complete, it is unfinished business and it always will be, but to be in this place and to have an opportunity to contribute to this lofty goal, Madam Deputy Speaker, that is humbling.
Finally, to the constituents of the Mandurah electorate, I do not take this responsibility lightly. I will endeavour to do all I can to honour the trust that you placed in me every single day until my last day serving in this place. Thank you.
(Applause.)
Debate adjourned, on motion by Mr David Michael (Leader of the House).
House adjourned at 6:02:00 pm
Questions on notice answered today are available on the Parliament of Western Australia's website
