Thursday, 20 February 2025

 Kathleen MATTHEWS-WARD (Broadmeadows) (17:23): (1026) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, and the action I seek is for the minister to join me on a visit to Enable in Broadmeadows. Enable is doing outstanding work in our community, driving economic growth, supporting the principles of the circular economy and contributing to a sustainable future. I first met Julie and the Enable team with the then mayor Cr Naim Kurt at the Buy Recycled expo at the Broadmeadows town hall, organised by Sustainability Victoria and Hume City Council, which showcased recycled product suppliers from across the region. I congratulate Hume for their support and commitment to the circular industry, which is expected to add $903 million to the city’s economy and create 1500 jobs annually by 2040.

I was so excited to meet Julie and the team from Enable and hear about their wonderful social enterprise, employing local people, recycling laptops and other equipment and supplying these to people who struggle to afford laptops, all the things that make my heart sing – accessible jobs, social outcomes and saving resources from landfill, leading the way right here in Broadmeadows. And I will also finally have somewhere I can drop my old laptops that have been floating around the back of my car for quite some time. I have been waiting to visit for some time, and I would be very excited for the minister to join me and see the great work they do and how we can expand social enterprises and the circular economy across Victoria.