Libby Coker
Corangamite · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Well, it's finally open. After years of planning, investment and construction, the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre is now welcoming visitors. While it's on Geelong's waterfront, the benefits won't stop there.”
“Participants and their families deserve confidence that the workers entering their homes and providing essential supports are appropriately trained, properly supported and accountable.”
“That's what makes this project so important. It's an investment that strengthens Geelong as the gateway to everything my part of Victoria has to offer, and it's already delivered 1,400 jobs, with more to come. It builds on the work we're doing across the Bellarine and Surf Coast to support growing communities.”
“It should be noted that, throughout this inquiry, the committee made clear that choice and control are the foundation of the NDIS, and they must remain at the centre of any reform. During this inquiry, the committee heard from people with disability, families, advocates, providers and experts.”
“The NDIS was built on trust—trust that participants would receive the right supports, trust that providers would act in the best interests of the people they support and trust that public funding would be used for its intended purpose. As the scheme has grown, the risks facing it have also evolved.”
“This includes a greater focus on fraud prevention and detection, stronger oversight of providers, improved collaboration between agencies and reform to better protect participants. During the committee's inquiry, what was highlighted was the importance of such continued work.”
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“We're also delivering stage 2 of the Barwon Heads Road Upgrade, improving safety and connectivity for one of the fastest growing parts of Victoria. These projects work together. Better roads connect communities. Better sporting facilities bring people together, and a world-class convention centre brings more visitors who will experience everything the Bellarine and Surf Coast have to offer. That's good for local business. It's good for local jobs, and it's another example of what can happen when governments invest in a long-term future. I'm proud to be part of a government that's backing this part of Victoria, creating opportunity today while building confidence for the future.”
“That's what makes this project so important. It's an investment that strengthens Geelong as the gateway to everything my part of Victoria has to offer, and it's already delivered 1,400 jobs, with more to come. It builds on the work we're doing across the Bellarine and Surf Coast to support growing communities. We will soon open a headspace and a four-court sports stadium in Armstrong Creek, aquatic facilities in Torquay and Drysdale, and new and upgraded sporting facilities in Ocean Grove and Grovedale. At Leopold Memorial Reserve, we've just delivered a major $3.5 million upgrade for local sports clubs and community groups. It means change rooms that meet the needs of both men's and women's sporting teams, more parking, better lights, a new scoreboard and so much more.”
“Well, it's finally open. After years of planning, investment and construction, the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre is now welcoming visitors. While it's on Geelong's waterfront, the benefits won't stop there. Every conference or major event will bring people looking for somewhere to stay, somewhere to eat and somewhere to explore. Whether it's a tourism showcase, a technology summit or a manufacturing expo, the convention centre is a dynamic piece in the puzzle that will put the wider Geelong region on the map. That means more visitors discovering the Bellarine wineries, restaurants and pubs; more people extending their stay on the Surf Coast; and more customers for local cafes, retailers and tourism operators from Torquay to Ocean Grove, from Barwon Heads to Portarlington, right here in my electorate of Corangamite.”
“Our responsibility is to ensure it remains a scheme that Australians can trust—one that delivers high-quality supports, protects participants and is sustainable for generations to come. I commend the report to the House.”
“It should be noted that, throughout this inquiry, the committee made clear that choice and control are the foundation of the NDIS, and they must remain at the centre of any reform. During this inquiry, the committee heard from people with disability, families, advocates, providers and experts. Their experience and the insights they have provided are critical in shaping this report and recommendations I tabled today into the integrity of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. I thank all those who contributed, and I thank my colleagues on the joint standing committee for their work and constructive engagement. I also thank our secretariat. Thank you for your hard work and diligence throughout the course of this inquiry. The NDIS is a reform of national importance.”
“Participants and their families deserve confidence that the workers entering their homes and providing essential supports are appropriately trained, properly supported and accountable. That's why the report supports stronger workforce standards, including consideration of an NDIS worker registration scheme focused on entry requirements, qualifications and ongoing professional development. A strong, stable workforce will help protect participants, support quality providers and ensure the scheme continues to deliver the high standard of care that Australians expect. The report also recommends stronger protections against misconduct and exploitation, including tougher action and penalties against fraud and criminal behaviour, and measures to prevent conflict of interest and inappropriate practices.”
“This includes a greater focus on fraud prevention and detection, stronger oversight of providers, improved collaboration between agencies and reform to better protect participants. During the committee's inquiry, what was highlighted was the importance of such continued work. This report builds on the government's integrity reforms and sets out further measures to strengthen the foundations of the scheme, including better identity verification and data sharing; stronger collaboration between agencies; improved provider accountability; and greater capacity to identify and respond to risk and fraud. A key part of this is ensuring that people delivering supports have the right skills, qualifications and professional standards.”
“The NDIS was built on trust—trust that participants would receive the right supports, trust that providers would act in the best interests of the people they support and trust that public funding would be used for its intended purpose. As the scheme has grown, the risks facing it have also evolved. The committee heard that, for a number of years, the integrity settings around the NDIS did not keep pace with the rapid growth and increasing complexity of the scheme. The result was a scheme where important foundations, including market stewardship, provider oversight and information-sharing arrangements, require further strengthening. Since 2022, significant work has been undertaken to address these challenges and strengthen the integrity of the NDIS.”
“On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, I present the committee's report, incorporating dissenting reports, entitled Integrity of the National Disability Insurance Scheme . Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e). by leave—The NDIS is one of the most significant social reforms in Australia's history. It has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Australians with disability and their families by giving people greater choice, control and access to the supports they need to live the lives they choose. This is why protecting the integrity of the scheme is so important.”
“My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. How is the Albanese Labor government helping households to lower their bills by taking advantage of Australia's world-class sunshine? What policies would put a stop to this progress?”
“More women will receive superannuation while they care for a newborn. More parents will have the opportunity to spend those precious early months with their children. That is what progress looks like, because the choices a government makes do matter. They reveal what we value. This government values women. We value families. This government will continue building an Australia where every woman has the opportunity, the security and the support she deserves.”
“We have made the leaving violence payment permanent. We've introduced 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave. We are reforming the child support system to stop financial abuse. We're investing record funding to address family, domestic and sexual violence. We are strengthening women's economic security, at every stage of life. Each reform is important on its own. Together, they tell a much bigger story. They tell the story of a government that believes women should have the opportunity to participate fully in our economy, to build financial security, to raise a family if they choose and to live free from violence. There is still more work to do. There always will be. But tomorrow, on 1 July, another important step will be taken. More families will receive paid parental leave.”
“Senator Hanson is on the record stating that women get themselves pregnant for the money, and, more recently, when speaking directly to women across Australia, she said: 'You have the equipment. That's what you're here for.' Those comments reveal a very different set of values. They reveal a disrespect for women. They suggest that caring is somehow less valuable, that supporting parents is an unnecessary expense and that investing in women is not only optional but, to some, unnecessary. The Albanese government rejects that thinking, and so do Australians. We know that supporting women is not a cost; it's an investment. It's an investment in stronger families, an investment in a child's future, an investment in economic growth and an investment in a more equal Australia. That is why our work does not stop with paid parental leave.”
“These are investments in Australians. These are investments in women and in families. These are reforms driven by the Albanese Labor government, and they are reforms built on values, but not everyone in this place shares our view on the value of these reforms. Australians have not forgotten when mothers were labelled 'double dippers' by former coalition treasurer Joe Hockey. They've not forgotten when women accessing paid parental leave were described as 'rorters'. The member for Goldstein said, 'It's not my choice that women have children; it's genetic.' More recently we have heard calls to wind back workplace rights and attacks on paid parental leave itself.”
“No sector demonstrates that more clearly than Australia's care economy. Whether it's the early childhood educator helping children learn and grow, the aged-care worker supporting an older Australian with dignity and compassion or the disability support worker helping someone live independently, these are professions built on care. They are professions that have traditionally been undertaken by women and, for far too long, they have been undervalued. Our government has taken a different approach. We have invested in aged care. We have supported significant wage increases for both early years educators and aged-care workers. We have expanded access to early childhood education because we know it helps give children the best start in life while making it easier for parents, particularly women, to participate in the workforce.”
“We recognise that caring has value and that it's not always easy. For too long, women have paid an economic penalty for taking time out of paid work to raise children. This has contributed to women retiring with significantly less superannuation than men. It has reinforced inequalities that last long after children have grown up. That's why paying superannuation on paid parental leave is such an important reform. It recognises that raising a family is one of the most important contributions anyone can make, and no parent should be financially disadvantaged in retirement simply because they choose to give their child the best possible start in life. Supporting women and families is, of course, about far more than just one policy. It's about recognising the value of work that has too often been overlooked.”
“From tomorrow, eligible families welcoming a new little person or adopting a child will be able to access up to 26 weeks of government funded paid parental leave. This really matters. It means families accessing the full entitlement receive almost $30,000 in support—more than $1,000 a week. Because of our changes to the system, more families will be eligible as income thresholds increase. This means more time with the newborn, more financial security and more choice and flexibility for Australian families. Being a first-time parent comes with so many unknowns and so much uncertainty. These reforms are designed to give parents the time and financial security to set up a family for success and share parenting duties. These changes to paid parental leave speak to our government's values.”
“I've often spoken to mums preparing to welcome their first child, to women and men returning to work after parental leave, and to grandparents helping care for grandchildren during the school holidays, after school and over weekends so that their daughter can stay in the workforce and pursue a career. While every family's story is different, the challenges they describe are remarkably similar: the pressures of paying the mortgage while taking time away from work, the cost of raising children, and the concern about whether taking time away from work today will affect their financial security tomorrow. These are real pressures. They are lived experiences. That's why paid parental leave matters.”
“The choices a government makes make a great deal of difference and show a great deal about its values. For the Albanese Labor government, those values are crystal clear: we value families, we value opportunity, we value aspiration and equality, and we value the contribution women make every single day to their families, to their workplaces, to their communities and to our nation. That's why so much of the work we do in this place is about creating opportunity for women, strengthening families and building a fairer Australia, because, when women do well, everyone benefits. Across my electorate of Corangamite in Victoria, I've spoken with countless women about the realities of balancing work and family.”
“A new single compensation and rehabilitation claim system will simplify support for veterans making new claims with the Department of Veterans' Affairs. It's another important step in ensuring that those who have served our country and the families who support them receive the care and support they need. In closing, these reforms represent government delivering on an ambitious reform agenda to improve people's lives. Tomorrow is more than the start of a new financial year; it's another step to a fairer, better Australia.”
“Australians living with conditions including cancer, severe asthma, diabetes and other serious illnesses will have access to medicines that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars. For many people, that means the difference between hoping they can afford treatment and knowing they can. It's another reminder of why the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and Medicare remain among Australia's greatest achievements and why the Albanese government continues to strengthen them, and Medicare urgent care clinics will now be a permanent feature of our health system. People across our region are really embracing the urgent care clinic in Torquay. It's making a real difference and delivering better health outcomes for so many locals. Tomorrow also marks the biggest reform in Australia's veterans support system in generations.”
“For too long, Australians have been watching supermarket prices climb while wondering whether they were paying more than what they should. It's frustrating and stressful for those on a tight budget. So, from tomorrow, we are making it illegal for the largest supermarkets to charge excessive prices beyond the cost of supply and a reasonable margin. These are tough new laws. They give the ACCC real enforcement powers and significant penalties for businesses that do the wrong thing. Australians deserve the confidence to know they're getting a fair deal when they walk through the supermarket doors. Tomorrow will also bring new and expanded access to 10 life-changing medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.”
“Every Australian worker will receive another tax cut. Workers on the national minimum wage will benefit from a six per cent pay increase, and workers on award wages will also see their pay rise. Millions of Australians receiving government payments will benefit from indexation, helping people keep pace with the cost of living, and more than 1.2 million families will receive higher family tax benefit payments to help with the cost of raising children. I know that for many families every dollar counts. Whether it's paying the electricity bill, buying school uniforms or covering the weekly grocery shop, these changes will make a real difference. In another first, we will reach another significant milestone for Australian consumers.”
“Parents receiving paid parental leave will also receive a higher weekly payment of more than $1,000. Tomorrow is also another important step in improving women's economic security. In groundbreaking reform, parents will receive superannuation contributions while on paid parental leave, helping to build their superannuation savings. For too long, women have retired with significantly less superannuation than men, in large part because they stepped away from paid work to raise children. This reform recognises something that women have always known: caring has value. Raising children is valuable work, and parents should not be financially worse off in retirement because they chose to give their child the best possible start in life. Tomorrow also brings welcome cost-of-living relief for millions of Australians.”
“Tomorrow is not just the beginning of a new financial year; it is another significant milestone in the Albanese government's ambitious reform agenda because 1 July brings with it real change for millions of Australians. It will mean more money in the pockets of Australians, more support for Australian families, and more economic and job security. For new parents, tomorrow marks another major expansion of paid parental leave. Eligible families welcoming a new baby or adopting a child will now be able to access up to 26 weeks of government funded paid parental leave. That means more time at home with the newborn and less financial pressure during one of life's biggest milestones. Families accessing the full entitlement will receive about $30,000 in support.”
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to have a safe place to call home, and, through our Homes for Australia plan, that is exactly what we are working to deliver.”
“We are rolling out help to buy, investing in more social and affordable housing through the Housing Australia Future Fund, supporting renters and working to massively increase housing supply so that more Australians have the opportunity to have a place to call home. The previous government spent almost a decade failing to address this challenge. They opposed every measure that is now helping Australians get into homes. But the Albanese government knows the housing challenge cannot be solved by standing back, doing nothing and hoping the market fixes itself. It requires government to play its part, and that's exactly what we are doing. In closing, the Prime Minister's visit was a great opportunity to highlight the difference these investments are making for local families today and the difference they will make for generations to come.”
“That's why our government is rolling out the $2 billion Local Infrastructure Fund. This fund will help unlock much-needed infrastructure by investing in water connections and powerlines that allow new homes to be built. It will support local governments and utility providers to deliver the projects needed to get housing moving. Importantly, it will help unlock up to 65,000 new homes over the next decade. It builds on the significant infrastructure investments the Albanese government is making on the Bellarine, the Surf Coast and across the Geelong region, with projects like the $680 million Barwon Heads Road upgrade that will be transformative to Armstrong Creek, one of the nation's fastest-growing suburbs. These investments in infrastructure and the Local Infrastructure Fund build on our government's broader Homes for Australia plan.”
“This is what good housing policy is about—good housing policy from a reforming government. It is about giving people the opportunity to build a place, a life, that they can call home. I know just how much this matters to my electorate. Corangamite is one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia. We have families moving in to Clifton Springs, Armstrong Creek, Ocean Grove, Mount Duneed, Torquay and right across the Bellarine Peninsula because they want to be part of our community. But, as a growing region, we also know that growth brings challenges. One of those challenges is making sure infrastructure keeps pace with the homes we need to build. Building homes is not just about putting up houses; before a family can move into a new home, there needs to be infrastructure that makes that home possible.”
“The Prime Minister travelled to Clifton Springs, where I introduced him to Brooklyn, Lochie and their dog, Rosco. Brooklyn and Lochie are just so overjoyed to have accessed the first home buyer five per cent deposit scheme. They told us about how they have worked hard, saved hard and, for a long time, have dreamt of building a future in the community they know and love. But, like many young Australians, they wondered whether owning a home of their own would ever be possible. Now, through the Albanese Labor government's expanded five per cent deposit scheme, they have been able to realise their dream of homeownership. Instead of paying for someone else's mortgage, they're investing in their own future. Alongside Brooklyn and Lochie, around 4,000 locals across the Geelong region have benefited from the scheme.”
“I thank the member for Adelaide for bringing forward this motion. He understands, and the Albanese government understands, that housing is about much more than bricks and mortar; it is about security, opportunity and belonging. Owning a home—a place to raise a family, put down roots and be part of a community—has always been at the heart of the Australian dream. For many Australians, that dream represents security, independence and the opportunity to build a future for themselves and their families. That's why helping more Australians into a home of their own is such an important priority for the Albanese Labor government. It's a priority that's delivering results for locals in my electorate of Corangamite in Victoria—locals who, last week, welcomed the Prime Minister to their new home.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government backing the aspiration of more Australians to get ahead and own a home of their own? How does the government's housing agenda make a positive difference to people's lives, and what alternatives are being offered?”
“It is about increasing housing supply, so we can build more homes, and so that more people can get a fair go at owning one. And it's about strengthening Medicare, investing in bulk-billing and urgent care clinics, like the one in Torquay in my electorate, and making sure health care is affordable and accessible no matter where you live. Unlike the coalition, who today voted against tax cuts, the Albanese government is delivering practical, real-world changes that respond to the pressures people are facing today while building for the long term.”
“Today, the Albanese government has passed our tax reform bills, delivering tax cuts for every working Australian. It's about ensuring that our tax system better reflects modern Australia, and that means fairly taxing income, whether it comes from wages, shares or the sale of a property. This is practical reform from a reforming Albanese government. It will make a real difference to people right across our nation—to workers who are doing their best to get ahead, to raise a family and plan for the future. But this reform is not just about tax settings; it is about what kind of country we are building together. It is about backing aspiration and making sure young Australians can see a path to homeownership in the communities they grew up in.”
“In closing: this bill is about ensuring that Australia remains a nation where opportunity is broad, not narrow; where prosperity is shared, not concentrated; and where the promise of a fair go remains as strong for the next generation as it has for every generation before.”
“This bill builds on our work to address those challenges through careful, considered reform—reform that cuts taxes for workers, reform that supports first business owners, reform that encourages investment in new housing supply and reform that helps ensure that the opportunities Australians value today remain available to the generations that will follow. At its heart, this legislation is about fairness. It's about ensuring that hard work is rewarded. It is about ensuring that aspiration remains achievable. That's what matters to Australians, and it's what matters to the Albanese Labor government.”
“That is what a reforming government looks like: making the hard decisions that will benefit our nation and Australians now and into the future. This bill recognises that housing affordability matters. It recognises that workers deserve a tax system that supports them. And it recognises that intergenerational fairness should not be simply discussed; it should be acted upon. For too long, too many younger Australians have felt that the pathway to homeownership has become increasingly difficult. For too long, the tax system has not always reflected the balance we need between rewarding work and rewarding investment.”
“Eligible small businesses will continue to have access to concessions that can substantially reduce or eliminate capital gains tax when a business is sold. Treasury modelling released this week shows that around 90 per cent of Australian small businesses will be covered by these concessional arrangements. That is an important point, because, while there has been a great deal of commentary, the reality is that the overwhelming majority of small businesses will continue to benefit from concessions under the law. Every generation faces choices about the future it wants to build. Sometimes those choices require government to challenge long-established tax arrangements, and sometimes they require us to look beyond the immediate political debate and focus on the long-term national interest.”
“These changes apply prospectively, with capital gains accrued before July next year remaining unaffected. Additionally, family homes are unaffected, and there is no inheritance tax. Despite the misinformation we have heard in this debate today by those opposite, these facts remain unchanged. Importantly, these reforms also recognise the role small businesses play in our economy. Across my electorate and the broader Geelong region, small businesses are central to local communities and the local economy. They employ local people. They sponsor local sporting clubs. They help create the vibrant towns and neighbourhoods that make our region such a great place to live. That is why the existing small business capital gains tax concessions remain in place.”
“Treasury modelling indicates that these reforms will help about 75,000 additional Australians purchase a home over the coming decade. For many young Australians, that could make a profound difference. It could mean the difference between remaining locked out of the market and owning a home of their own. On top of this, the bill also reforms capital gains tax. It is important that debate on this issue be grounded in the facts. The reforms return capital gains tax closer to its original intent. Rather than applying a flat discount, the new arrangements will allow investors to index the cost base of assets to inflation. In simple terms, people will pay tax on real gains rather than inflationary gains. That is a simple, sensible principle. It reflects economic reality, and it helps ensure a more efficient and more fair tax system.”
“We also have a responsibility to ensure that our tax settings support the goal of homeownership rather than working against it. This legislation limits future negative gearing arrangements for residential property investments to new builds. Importantly, existing investments are grandfathered. Australians who have made decisions under the current rules will not be affected. Investors who purchase new housing that adds to supply will continue to have access to negative gearing. We are changing incentives so that tax concessions are directed towards increasing housing stock rather than intensifying competition for existing homes. That matters, and it makes absolute sense, because, if a tax concession exists, it should support outcomes that benefit the broader community. As Australians, we're all in it together.”
“Across my electorate, housing is one of the issues people raise with me most often—young people in Torquay at the local farmers market, young families in Ocean Grove at the footy, and workers in Drysdale, Armstrong Creek and Clifton Springs. Many tell me the same thing: they are working hard, they are saving and they are making sacrifices, but homeownership feels further away than it should. That is why the Albanese government is continuing to take action. Our housing agenda remains firmly focused on increasing supply. We are investing in social housing, we are supporting affordable housing and we are working with states and territories to boost construction and unlock more homes. But supply alone cannot be the whole answer.”
“Importantly, workers who incur work related expenses above $1,000 will still be able to claim those deductions under existing arrangements. This is about making the system simpler, fairer and easier to navigate. Together with the income tax cuts already delivered by the Albanese government, these measures provide meaningful and ongoing support to Australian workers. But this legislation is about more than tax relief. It is about one of the defining challenges facing younger Australians today: housing affordability. Homeownership has always been about more than bricks and mortar. It is about security, stability and belonging. It is about having a place to raise a family, to build a future and to become part of a community.”
“It is support for the apprentice learning a trade, and it comes on top of our $10,000 incentive for construction apprentices and our support for free TAFE. These reforms build on that work too, because we know that, for our young community members and for all working Australians, every dollar matters, skills matter and getting rewarding work matters. Our measures recognise that reality. The bill introduces a $1,000 instant tax deduction for work related expenses, because we know—the Albanese government knows—that, for many Australians, tax time has become unnecessarily complicated. This reform simplifies the system while also delivering additional financial benefit. Around 6.2 million Australians are expected to benefit. More than half are women. More than a quarter are under the age of 30.”
“They want a tax system that recognises their contribution and they expect government to tackle long-term challenges rather than leave them to future generations to solve. The Albanese government recognises this. We are a reforming government and we are acting. That's what this bill is about. A key part of our reforms includes additional tax relief for working Australians. The working Australians tax offset will provide a permanent tax offset of up to $250 each year for more than 13 million workers. That is practical support directed at people who earn their living through wages and salaries. It is support for the teacher helping students reach their potential. It is support for a nurse working the night shift. It is support for the small-business employee opening up early and locking up late.”
“It is about backing working Australians with a fairer tax system, it's about strengthening the dream of homeownership, and it is about ensuring the opportunity remains within reach for future generations. That's why these reforms are so significant. They are also measured. Importantly, they are guided by a simple principle: Australians who earn their living through hard work should know that the system is working for them too. Across my electorate of Corangamite in Victoria, I meet people who are contributing every day to the strength of our economy and our communities. They are nurses in Torquay, teachers in Leopold, tradies working across the Bellarine, hospitality workers on the Surf Coast and small business owners in Ocean Grove. They work hard, pay their taxes and contribute to the communities they call home.”
“Our communities succeed when hard work is rewarded. They succeed when a young person can build a future through their own effort, through buying their own home. They succeed when families can plan ahead with confidence, and they succeed when the opportunities available to one generation are passed on to the next. That's what this bill, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026, is all about. It's about ensuring that our tax system better reflects modern Australia, and that means fairly taxing income, whether it comes from wages, shares or sale of a property. As our economy changes, as our communities grow and as new challenges emerge, government has a responsibility to ensure that the rules continue to serve the national interest. That's what this legislation is about.”
“This investment matters. It will leave a lasting legacy for rapidly growing townships like Torquay, Armstrong Creek, Grovedale and many coastal communities, and, when the doors open in 2027, families will swim in these pools, children will learn vital water safety skills, older residents will participate in warm water exercise programs and community members of all ages and abilities will enjoy the benefits of a modern recreation facility. Few in the community may know the full history of how this project came to be, but they will be the beneficiaries. I thank all those who spent decades advocating for this centre, and I look forward to seeing the Wurdi Baierr Aquatic and Recreation Centre open its doors and serve the Surf Coast community for many generations to come.”
“In the decades that followed, there were communities working on committees, feasibility studies, public meetings, petitions and consultations. Again and again, local people made the case that their growing communities deserved a facility where people could learn to swim, stay safe in the water, rehabilitate from injury, improve their health and wellbeing and come together. The game changer came when the Surf Coast Shire councillors voted to reserve land for a pool right in the heart of Torquay's civic precinct. As a councillor at the time, this was a pivotal moment led by former councillors Deane Webster and Rose Hodge. It was the catalyst to significant federal and state funding. That funding will soon deliver a 25-metre pool, gymnasium, warm water pool for rehab, learn to swim, allied health suites, sauna and spa and a splash park.”
“For decades, people across Torquay and the Surf Coast in my electorate of Corangamite have dreamt about an aquatic and recreation centre that would meet the needs of a growing community. Today that dream is about to become a reality. Construction of the Wurdi Baierr Aquatic and Recreation Centre is now at a significant milestone, with all three indoor pools—a 25-metre pool, a learn-to-swim pool and a warm water pool—now fully tiled. At 75 per cent complete, we remain on track to open the doors of this amazing facility next year. This achievement is about much more than bricks, tiles and concrete. It is accumulation of generations of community advocacy. The campaign for a pool in Torquay stretches back to the 1950s and 60s, when local groups first began lobbying for swimming facilities.”