STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator COLLINS (New South Wales—Deputy Opposition Whip in the Senate) (13:36): We are so blessed in my home state of New South Wales to have some of the most welcoming country towns in Australia. Through the break, I visited Albury and Armidale, two regional centres with multibillion-dollar economies and vibrant communities. I commend the work that my state colleagues Justin Clancy MP and Aileen MacDonald MLC are doing in their communities, supporting small businesses and local families, and I look forward to returning soon.

I learned about the water struggles that affect both these towns and how population growth and renewable energy zones are putting maximum pressure on dwindling water supplies. In Armidale, I met council Mayor Sam Coupland, Deputy Mayor Todd Redwood and Councillor Eli Imad to hear about their comprehensive vision to improve water security and support larger population growth.

In Guyra, I spoke with four incredible Tongan people working under the PALM scheme. I heard firsthand about the benefits of this great coalition policy for these individuals, and it was absolutely heartwarming. They told me how much they love our country and that Australia and the Kingdom of Tonga are closer as a result.

The University of New England is making a huge contribution to education, in particular through the great work of Vice-Chancellor and CEO Chris Moran in bringing tertiary education to disparate communities. In Albury, amongst many small businesses, I visited Anzac House and the Albury RSL Sub-Branch to learn about the work that they are doing to support the local veteran community.

Thank you to outgoing president Graham Docksey OAM for your dedication and all that you have put into that role and your local veteran community. Albury may be a regional city, but it has a global and highly diversified economy and has become an engine of the New South Wales economy. But Labor's policies have created cost-of-living pressures, housing affordability challenges and workforce shortages which are huge issues in these town centres.

This is forcing young people and families to leave these towns—what an absolute tragedy.