STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr NEUMANN (Blair) (16:44): Volunteers are the backbone of our communities, and the Albanese government is backing them through our highly successful volunteer grants program. I'm glad to announce that 16 local community groups and sporting clubs in my electorate shared more than $61,000 in the latest round of volunteer grants. These grants range from $2½ thousand to $5,000, and they're being used for a range of things, like IT equipment, insurance and sporting equipment for junior sporting teams.

The Riverview Neighbourhood House Association, the Ipswich Catholic Community, the Ipswich Little Theatre Society, Ripley Scout Group, Redbank Plains Bears Junior Rugby League Club, the Wounded Heroes veteran support organisation and the Ripley Nepalese Community Group have all received funding. The funding for the Ripley Nepalese community is particularly timely as our local Nepalese community continues to deal with the devastating impact of the recent flash flooding in Nepal.

These groups in my electorate are among more than 4,500 community organisations across Australia who will receive almost $10 million in this latest volunteer round. I want to thank the local groups for what they do and congratulate the recipients in my electorate for the outstanding and fantastic work they do on the ground. I want to thank them particularly for what they do to help people.

They are the heart of the community. From a junior sporting coach to an emergency worker, these are people who do everything to support our local communities and make our communities stronger. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Mascarenhas ): In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.