STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms TRISH COOK (Bullwinkel) (13:31): After that earlier earbashing, I'd like to talk about the storms that have been bashing WA. Over the weekend we had a severe, one-in-50-year weather event in Perth and in the south-west of WA. I was right there with them, experiencing the intense blackouts and the isolation that wild weather triggers in Bullwinkel.

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the SES workers and all the emergency volunteers. They work tirelessly, around the clock, in dangerous conditions, to help keep Western Australians safe. Thank you.

This event underscores the reason the Albanese Labor government's $1.2 million investment into mobile phone resilience across the Perth Hills is so critical. We are delivering on my election commitment to protect our community and our communications when the power goes out and the storms hit. We're doing this by extending the battery back-up power at mobile phone stations, and installing up to 23 automatic transfer units for when the power does go out.

This is our commitment to resilience of communications—just as our budget 2026 is delivering a resilient economy and providing safer communities and levelling the playing field, particularly for first-time homebuyers. Labor is delivering.