Wednesday, 15 October 2025

 Jackson TAYLOR (Bayswater) (09:53): It was fantastic to be out at Knox Infolink in Boronia to announce that the Allan Labor government is committing to another year of funding for the Boronia breakfast program. This program is now in its fifth year. It is absolutely incredible, the impact it has had on the lives of so many people. It has been more than just a hot meal and a coffee four or five days a week. Now moving into its fifth year, it is so much more. It is a meal, it is connection and it is also a support service linking people to housing services, vaccination providers coming in and a range of other services. People who otherwise would not receive the help they need are getting it right in the heart of Boronia at Knox Infolink. I want to thank Denise Budge, the former manager and now board chair of Knox Infolink, and Penny Robinson, who was the first coordinator of the program, now manager of Knox Infolink, for their advocacy. They ran a strong campaign to the state government and are attracting a range of philanthropic support to keep this program going.

I was so proud to be down there announcing the extra funding to keep this program running, to make sure people who could not otherwise could get a warm meal and get those support services, those friendships, those connections. It has gotten people off the streets. It has gotten people into housing. This is a fantastic program – the best social program I have been involved with as a local member in my now seven years – and of course I will continue to back it in, and I will do my absolute level best to continue to secure its funding into the long term. It is so good. Love it.