Tuesday, 2 May 2023

 Anthony CIANFLONE (Pascoe Vale) (15:50): I have not wasted a day over recent weeks, serving the Pascoe Vale community through: welcoming the Premier to Coburg High School to inspect plans for the new $17.8 million Coburg technology hub; hosting the Treasurer for a successful business and community breakfast attended by over 100 local representatives to talk about Coburg revitalisation; officially opening, as of yesterday, the new Pentridge visitor and entertainment precinct, which will be a game changer for tourism in Melbourne’s north; accompanying the Minister for Small Business and Minister for Veterans to the Coburg RSL and to meet with local traders; inspecting the Metro rail tunnel, which will support more train services up the Upfield and Craigieburn lines; welcoming the Minister for Health to meet with Merri community health in Coburg; touring the Big Housing Build Harvest Square project with the Minister for Housing, who is at the table here, in Brunswick West; paying my respects to veterans at the Coburg RSL and Pascoe Vale RSL Anzac Day services; welcoming Merri-bek’s newest citizens at local ceremonies; celebrating with East Coburg Cricket Club their record-breaking two-premiership-winning season with the men’s and women’s teams; and representing the Minister for Police and Minister for Youth Justice as well at the Youth Activating Youth Ramadan dinner at the Islamic museum in East Coburg and Thornbury. I have also managed to secure a number of significant grants, including $178,000 towards the Reynard Street Neighbourhood House, $154,000 for the Shirley Robertson Children’s Centre and $10,000 for Brunswick Juventus. My office has also been helping many residents with the $250 power saving bonus, which is helping and taking real action on the cost of living today and tomorrow.