Can you describe a little bit about yourself, including your journey that has led to you standing for the electorate of Gellibrand in 2025.
I’ve served as the Federal Member for Gellibrand since 2013 and as the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Albanese Government since 2022. I live in Melbourne’s West with my wife and two kids. It is a privilege to represent our community in Canberra and the best job in the world.
My mum was a big inspiration for my running for parliament – she was a social worker and trade unionist and instilled me with values like equal social and economic opportunity for all. My upbringing helped me appreciate that anyone, regardless of their background or identity, should be able to reach their full potential.
For more than a decade, I’ve represented one of the most diverse electorates in Australia. As your federal MP, I will always back Melbourne’s West. A re-elected Labor Government will continue to deliver responsible, effective cost of living relief, while Building Australia’s Future right here in our tight-knight and fast-growing community in Wyndham.
This federal election is about the kind of nation that we want to be. The things we value most as Australians are on the ballot, leaving our community with a clear choice: keep building Australia’s future with Federal Labor, or be worse off under Peter Dutton and the Liberal’s cuts.
What are the top 3 local priorities for you at this Federal Election?
Our priority is backing all Australians with the cost of living and building Australia’s future:
1. Cost of living: making medicines and childcare cheaper, investing in Medicare to expand bulk billing, wiping another 20% from HECS debts, more energy bill relief, $1000 instant tax write offs for workers, and two more tax cuts on the way.
2. Building Australia’s Future: we’re investing $2.5 billion to fully and fairly fund Victorian public schools, making free TAFE permanent, strengthening Medicare with the largest single investment ever, growing our infrastructure with our communities, and building 1.2 million homes to ease housing pressures.
3. Delivering for Melbourne’s West: we know things have been hard and there’s more to do, but we’ve turned a corner – inflation is down, interest rates are falling and wages are rising. As your Federal MP, I’ve been focused on delivering infrastructure to support our tight-knit community to come together and celebrate together, including: $58.5 million to improve road safety and efficiency in Point Cook, and $10 million in community infrastructure in Point Cook and Laverton North – the expansion of the Point Cook Community Hub at Saltwater Reserve and the completion of the Kororoit Creek Trail.
With Wyndham representing one of the fastest growing municipalities in the country, what will you do to ensure federal investment keeps up with this population growth?
Growing communities need growing infrastructure to match. If re-elected, our government will deliver more than $70 million in community infrastructure for Gellibrand, including:
- $58.5 million to ease congestion on Point Cook Road and Central Ave, to get you where you need to go, safer and faster.
- $5 million to expand the Point Cook Community Hub, delivering a 300-seat mixed use function space at the Saltwater Reserve Pavilion.
- $5 million for the Kororoit Creek Trail to transform our natural environment and support pedestrians and cyclists in our community.
And we’re investing in the safety and efficiency of the western suburbs, delivering important infrastructure upgrades, like:
- $1.1 billion to upgrade the Western Freeway.
- A $1 billion rollout in suburban road blitz to increase capacity and improve efficiency in Melbourne’s growth areas, including our community.
What is the most important transportation project that our community needs? Why do you think it should be prioritised?
An upgrade to Point Cook Rd to make locals’ commutes safer and faster.
That’s why the Albanese Government has committed $3.5 million for a business case to upgrade Point Cook Road between Jamieson Way and Dunnings Road, building on previous work to develop the project scope.
And $55 million to duplicate Central Avenue between Lunn Ct and Skehan Blvd.
We’re also upgrading the Point Cook Road and Central Avenue intersection to help our community get where we need to go, quicker and more safely.
As critical connecting roads to the Princes Freeway, these will be transformative projects for Melbourne’s west, reducing travel times and improving safety for the residents of Point Cook and surrounding growing suburbs.
The Central Avenue and Point Cook intersection is used by nearly 28,000 vehicles a day.
With congestion set to grow, travel times are expected to significantly increase.
Growing suburbs in Melbourne’s West need growing infrastructure investments to match.
This business case will provide the state government with a plan for the solution.
After a decade of neglect under the Coalition, the Federal Albanese government is acting, delivering the funding needed for Building Australia’s Future right here in Wyndham.
Last month, the Werribee Open Range Zoo opened the 21-hectare Elephant Trail, a world-class habitat for nine Asian elephants. There are so many exciting sites in the West for visitors including the Werribee Zoo, Cheetham Wetlands, Werribee Park Mansion, the K-Road cliffs and many exciting food and drink opportunities. What’s your suggestion to those who may be visiting for a day?
There is a lot happening in Melbourne’s West. As one of the fastest-growing and most diverse regions in the country, we’re united by a strong sense of community.
As a member of this community as well as your local MP, I know first-hand that Melbourne’s West is the kind of place where people celebrate together, volunteer together and work together to make our community a better place.
If you’re new to the area the best way to start becoming a part of the community is to knock on your neighbour’s door and say hi. For visitors and locals alike, I recommend a walk around the 100 Steps to Federation and Cheetham Wetlands, a cycle along Skeleton Creek Trail, and a visit to the RAAF Base Point Cook museum and the Point Cook Homestead to soak up some local history.