Wednesday, 3 December 2025

 Sarah CONNOLLY (Laverton) (10:42): As 2025 comes to a close let us look back at the year that has been. We started this year opening Muyan early learning centre at Sunshine Primary School, and we have got two more coming to Ardeer South and Glengala primary schools next year. Bemin Secondary also secured $37 million in the budget for stage 2, which I cannot wait to see start in the coming months.

On health, the new Footscray Hospital is nearly complete and will open in a couple of months; works continue on Werribee Mercy Hospital’s expanded ED, set to open next year; and major construction has begun on Melton hospital.

On community sport, there is a new scoreboard up at Sunshine Heights Cricket Club, with another one coming for Western Suburbs Soccer Club nearby.

On transport, there is even more good news: Sunshine super-hub’s funding has been secured, and it will start construction next year, with Albion station close behind. This Sunday, folks in Trug and Laverton will also be able to enjoy their brand new bus route, the 154, to take them between Tarneit and Laverton stations. And of course how could I forget the Metro Tunnel? At last it is finished and it is open, and folks across Victoria can now benefit from the five brand new stations and frequent services to the city, including my community in Sunshine on the Sunbury line. It will soon be followed by the opening of the West Gate Tunnel in just a couple of weeks, giving folks in Melbourne’s west a second crossing over the Yarra to drive around and on at long last.

It is important to reflect on these things, because they do not just happen, they happen because governments like ours fund the things that matter. I would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas.