QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (14:45): Thank you to the member for Macarthur not just for his question but for his extraordinary record as a paediatrician serving people in south-west Sydney. There isn't a child in his electorate who wasn't delivered by the member for Macarthur, I think. That explains one of the reasons why he sits there with a very good margin!
Today, I was absolutely delighted to meet with young Dusty Langby, his parents, Sarah and Andrew, his brother, Angus, nurses Christine Letton and Nichole Callan and the CEO of Little Wings, Clare Pearson. Dusty is an extraordinary young Australian, and I know the member for Parkes has very much welcomed the announcement that we made today. Dusty has walked 540 kilometres from Warren to Canberra, raising money for Little Wings.
This morning, he was completely exhausted, and it's not surprising. This young man has been getting up at 5 am every morning and walking for hour after hour along the road, along with his mum and members of his family and the support group which are there. This has all been aimed at raising funds to help sick kids.
For families in regional Australia, getting specialist care can mean travelling hundreds of kilometres. What Little Wings does is help to bridge that gap. It helps get them to the big cities, the capital cities—particularly Sydney and Brisbane—to make sure they get the care that they need.
Whether they live in Warren or whether they live in 'the warren' in my electorate, they get the same access to great care. Last year, they helped over 5,000 children in rural, regional and remote areas. Dusty on this walk has raised almost half a million dollars.
It came about while he was lying in the dam, he and his mum told us. He had this idea that he just wanted to do something to assist kids in need. What a fine young man he is.
He has raised almost $500,000. He asked us to match it, and the Australian government will match it, and I think that would be welcomed by every Australian. In addition to that—in addition to the million dollars that he's raised—we're extending funding for Little Wings for a further two years.
That's an additional million dollars to make sure Little Wings can keep flying. I want to congratulate Dusty. I want to wish him all the best.
He starts high school next year. Just think about this—a 12-year-old boy, still in year 6, making this absolute commitment to his fellow Australians and in particular his fellow young Australians from regional communities like Warren. What a cracking lad he is, and he's an inspiration for our entire nation.
At a time when we need more optimism, this kid has the lot. Well done, Dusty.