ADJOURNMENT

Ms BRISKEY (Maribyrnong) (16:46): This week I have been fortunate to have Meredith, a local year 10 student from Kensington, doing some work experience in my electorate office. Unfortunately, as is the nature of this job, I'm here in Canberra and she is in Moonee Ponds, but I did ask her to help me write this speech about the incredible community that we call home.

Meredith came back to me with this speech, centred on how community connection is important because it directly supports our mental health as well as our emotional and physical wellbeing—I could not agree more, Meredith. In the last two weeks I've had the opportunity to attend many local community events. One of the most rewarding visits was to St John Bosco's Primary School, in Niddrie, for their grade 6 civics class.

It was wonderful to have a chat with those students to share their ideas about democracy and government and their role within their community. I also had the very good privilege of attending Ascot Vale West Primary School with you, Mr Speaker, where we talked about Australian National Flag Day. It was a great opportunity.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for coming along to give that civics class and to turn Ascot Vale West into Australia's parliament for at least an hour. There is also sport—another critical element of bringing people together. I got to visit Essendon Rowing Club for their Saltwater Challenge on the river where our electorate gets its name—the Maribyrnong River.

I was able to get a key insight into how the crews in their quad sculls test their endurance on the gruelling 4½-kilometre course. Events like this demonstrate the dedication of volunteers and across sporting clubs, providing people opportunity to participate and stay active. In fantastic news for the club, they have recently been awarded a Stronger Communities grant of $13,000 for a new coxed quad scull for their female rowers.

As you know, Mr Speaker, community is also built through our local businesses. They are the backbone of our communities. I had the opportunity recently to visit TerryWhite Chemmart in Glenroy, where I met with Vihung, the pharmacist who owns the pharmacy, who talked me through the benefits that our $25 cap on PBS medicines is having for his clients.

I also got to celebrate the very first birthday of the newest Happy Apple grocer in Essendon, where I met Hamish, the owner—who, in fact, opened the very first Happy Apple, back in Ascot Vale, about 20 years ago. As I said, local businesses are more than just places where people work or go to shop; they are places where people meet, build relationships and become familiar faces in their neighbourhood.

It was a wonderful chance to speak to many businesses across my community. I enjoy it every time I get the chance. I would like to thank and sincerely congratulate the volunteers, teachers, students, local businesses, sporting clubs and individuals who gave up their time to welcome me to their events and create safe and cohesive community.

It is these people who make our community the place that it is, and it's such a privilege to be able to see their contributions firsthand. Earlier this week, I also asked Meredith to help craft a member's statement on an issue that was really important to her. She came back to me with a speech on the devastating floods in Nepal.

Last month, a catastrophic flood struck the Himalayan region near Nepal's border with China. More than 1,300 people lost their lives, with thousands still missing. Villages and hundreds of people's homes were destroyed in an instant.

In my community, especially in Glenroy, we have a vibrant Nepalese community, and I know that this tragedy is being felt deeply here at home. To every member of our Nepalese community in Maribyrnong who is grieving or is still waiting for news on loved ones, my thoughts are with you. Your community stands with you.

The disaster also raised concerns around climate change and the future of the Himalayas, which are warming faster than the global average. Nepal is responsible for less than 0.1 per cent of the global emissions, yet it is highly vulnerable to natural disasters, including floods and landslides. Countries like Nepal have done the least to cause climate change, and they are often the most exposed to its effects.

That is why this government has an ambitious plan for climate action. It is part of our broader role as a good global citizen, and we stand with the people of Nepal. Thank you very much, Meredith.

I hope you enjoyed your time in my office and your work experience. You've done an amazing job.