Wednesday, 12 November 2025

 Nick McGOWAN (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (23:41): (2097) Treasurer, I just feel like the gods are trying to bring us closer together today, and it is probably appropriate, because it is getting close to midnight and there are not many people left in the Parliament. It is just the stayers that are here, so that is always nice to see. Unfortunately, my matter is not for you today. I appreciate you being here – we did discuss this earlier today – but it is actually for the minister in the other place, Minister Spence. It of course relates to the Vermont Men’s Shed. I know you have heard this once today, so I will try and recast it – not to borrow from my colleague here Ms Bath, who has already left for today. There were enough hooks and lures in that speech already.

Nonetheless, I have a very serious request of Minister Spence. I will have a delegation from the Vermont Men’s Shed here on Friday, and I would love for Minister Spence to join that delegation. They need a home. Mr John Mullahy is working assiduously, I would say, and has made some great efforts. However, he has come up short – no fault of his. I think he has in his mind a solution, which is to work not only with the Vermont Men’s Shed but also with Cape, formerly Nadrasca, a sensational local organisation that works in the disability space. Unfortunately for us, time is of the essence. They cannot wait until the next budget cycle. That is some distance off, as I do not need to tell you – you are the one running the next budget process.

Nonetheless, about these men, there are 120 in total. I need not tell you, because I know you know particularly well – and you are passionate too about men’s sheds in addition to other community facilities – that it provides a purposeful, productive and in many respects life-saving facility for these men. The prospect that they will find themselves homeless in short order – as I said today, in only a number of weeks they were about to find themselves thrown out of their current facility. The Anglican Church, thankfully, have continued to extend – I guess for the last time. They were due to finish there this year. I think they will now extend into the early new year, but I cannot understate the importance of them finding a home.

I know that also the President shares the same sort of passion for the Ringwood Men’s Shed. They were a little bit more fortunate. They got about $2500 in the last round, so that was welcome. Nonetheless, the urgent need is for the Vermont Men’s Shed. As I said, this delegation will be here. I would happily invite the member in the other place, Mr Mullahy. He knows Mr David Lewis, who is the president, very well. He will be accompanied by two other men from that men’s shed. Treasurer, you are also welcome to be invited, although this action is not for you, but it is an extension of my constituency question. Certainly Minister Spence would be welcome to join us and to discuss with them their pressing, urgent needs, because the last thing we want is for these 120 men, who have a contribution to make and a purposeful outlet, to finish.