Hugh McDermott for Prospect

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Dr HUGH McDERMOTT ( Prospect ) ( 16:17 ): On 19 August 2016 I was delighted to attend the Mary MacKillop Catholic College, Wakeley, for the annual Mary MacKillop Day mass. Mary MacKillop college is a wonderful school towards the south-west of the electorate of Prospect, with a history tracing back to Mary MacKillop herself and her role as one of the Sisters of St Joseph, a teaching order active in south-western Sydney since the 1930s. Today the school caters for more than 900 students and is a valuable member of the Diocese of Sydney. I would like to note the wonderful efforts of Father Richard of St Benedict's Smithfield, Father Alberic Jacovone, Archbishop Amel Nona, Father Damien Mosakowski and Father Patrick McAuliffe in leading the mass on that day. I also congratulate and thank the school principal, Narelle Archer, the Sisters of St Joseph and the students of Mary MacKillop Catholic College for providing such a wonderful example to our community.

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Dr HUGH McDERMOTT ( Prospect ) ( 16:03 ): I draw to the attention of the House the Greystanes High School Boys to Men program. With over $16,000 in funding from Wenty Leagues Club, Greystanes High School was able to execute a three-phase program to engage at-risk boys to develop practical work skills and improve overall engagement, work ethic and attitude. The project required the boys to learn and develop skills in formworking, concreting, plumbing, bricklaying and carpentry. The students built a bike shed that was then launched. This project culminated in a Ride to School Day, which saw students ride to school and enjoy a barbecue breakfast with school staff, council representatives, Wenty Leagues directors and me. I congratulate the students and staff who participated in the Boys to Men program. I am sure that the bike shed will be put to good use for many years to come. I thank Wenty Leagues club for supporting our community.

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Dr HUGH McDERMOTT ( Prospect ) ( 16:07 ): I congratulate the Olympic athletes who are either residents of the Prospect electorate or who went to school in Prospect. There are seven Olympians from Prospect this year: Ellie Carpenter for soccer is from Pemulwuy and attended Westfields Sports High School; Mitch Emery for water polo is from Greystanes and attended Greystanes High School; Alanna Kennedy for soccer attended Westfields Sports High School; Fabrice Lapierre for long jump also attended Westfields Sports High School; Warren Potent for shooting and 50-metre rifle attended Greystanes High School; Dani Samuels for athletics, discus, attended Westfields Sports High School; and Brandon Starc for high jump attended Hills Sports High School. Congratulations to these seven Olympians, all great members of the Western Sydney community.

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Dr HUGH McDERMOTT ( Prospect ) ( 12:39 ): I move:

That this House:

(1)Notes that Toongabbie railway station does not have lifts.

(2)Notes that the Government has not constructed lifts, a new station concourse and footbridge, new stairs and platform canopies, and family accessible toilets at Toongabbie station in its previous term.

(3)Notes that the large number of young mothers with prams, aged and disabled people who use this station struggle with access to public transport.

(4)Notes that the Government has failed to allocate specific funding to install lifts at Toongabbie railway station.

(5)Urges the Minister for Transport to fund lifts at Toongabbie railway station.

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Dr HUGH McDERMOTT ( Prospect ) ( 16:04 ): I speak in opposition to this ridiculous motion. The member for Seven Hills and the member for Parramatta must be living in a fantasy world. I hope they are enjoying the whole debate and the fact that they are supporting tolls on the WestConnex roads. Let us be honest: Today the WestConnex is a $16.8 billion toll road. In a week or two it will be another billion dollars. The scheduled completion for stage two is late. As much as they want to talk about the efficiency of this Government and how great it is doing, the completion date of the WestConnex has already been moved from 2019 to 2020.

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Dr HUGH McDERMOTT ( Prospect ) ( 16:06 ): I congratulate the Australian Tamil Chamber of Commerce on its trade show on 29 May at Fairfield Showground. The Australian Tamil Chamber of Commerce represents the Tamil business community in Australia and is committed to promoting and extending business relations between Australia and beyond. Incorporated in 2015, the Australian Tamil Chamber of Commerce comprises a variety of entrepreneurs, business leaders and self-employed professionals from financial services, legal services, information technology, media services, health care, engineering, education, realty, building and architectural services, restaurants, marketing, event management and other professional services operated by Tamil people residing in Australia. I congratulate the executive of the Australian Tamil Chamber of Commerce on a very successful trade show and the international work it does for the Tamil community.

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Dr HUGH McDERMOTT (Prospect) [4.54 p.m.]: I acknowledge Holroyd council—a well-run, efficient council that is an outstanding example to other councils in Western Sydney. I have always found it to be an amazing council that looks after my rubbish, looks after my children's child care and looks after the immunisation programs in Holroyd. I always find it amusing when toffs from Drummoyne and Hornsby decide that they want to try to destroy a well-run council.

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Dr HUGH McDERMOTT (Prospect) [4.52 p.m.]: On this St Patrick's Day I recognise the incredible contribution of the principals, teachers, staff, nuns, brothers, reverend fathers and other members of religious orders to Catholic education in the electorate of Prospect. There are two Catholic education officers in Prospect, one from the Archdiocese of Sydney and one from the Diocese of Parramatta. I acknowledge Nagle College and St Michael's Catholic Early Learning Centre, Blacktown; St Anthony's Primary School, Toongabbie; St Paul's College and Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School, Greystanes; Mary Immaculate Primary School, Bossley Park; and St Gertrude Catholic Primary School, Smithfield. They are all great institutions. I thank them for caring for and educating our children.

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Dr HUGH McDERMOTT (Prospect) [1.20 p.m.]: The Sydney Wet'n'Wild Nippers Club in Western Sydney finished its third season last Sunday with a fun-filled carnival. I thank Sydney Wet'n'Wild Nippers Club, the age managers and nippers who made this season so successful. The club, which was the first of its kind in Australia, was set up to give kids in Western Sydney a genuine "nippers" experience, teaching them vital surf safety skills and education in a fun, supervised environment. The program is open to children aged between five years and 12 years. The nippers program is about having fun while learning to stay safe at the beach. Children participate in a wide range of games, sports and educational activities that are designed to slowly build confidence in and around the water.

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