Citizens of this fast growing community – the “Gateway to Bendigo” – have been seeking such a centre since the 1980s. They have patiently waited for a replacement to their antiquated pool whilst enduring many difficult times using this outdated pool to teach children to swim and as a training venue for the local swimming club. A new era can now be established and can this swimming club now produce another Faith Leech or John Konrad with what this new centre will offer? All children should be taught to swim and with recent statistics it appears there is a spike in the number of drownings in this state. The new aquatic centre will be located in a central position and within walking distance of five schools and a kindergarten. 

It is adjacent to Dower Park where football, netball and cricket clubs are located who will use this facility for training purposes. There were some vocal and repeated objections to the establishment of this wonderful facility.  It was interesting that the opponents to this facility appear to have resided a long way from Kangaroo Flat. All Bendigo citizens will be able to enjoy this new facility to enhance their fitness and well being.

Finally, I would like to mention some individuals who saw the need for this type of community facility during the 1980s and resolutely continued to promote this idea.  These respected citizens of Bendigo include Alan Besley, Barry Lyons, Ken Yates and Bob Austin, who must be acknowledged as a community leader who has done so much for Bendigo.

I was concerned when I read and heard reports that many regional Victorians are suffering rental stress and why our local member has been so quiet regarding this matter.

During the final stages of the Rudd, Gillard, Rudd governments, the Labor Party at the direction of deputy leader Tanya Plibersek devised a scheme – with a $3.5 billion price tag – designed to help low income earners to get affordable rental accommodation.

Only 26,000 of these accommodation units were built before the Coalition government scrapped the scheme because it was being rorted by property investors and universities. Many of the accommodation units built provided low cost, taxpayer subsidised, accommodation to wealthy overseas students and not low income needy Australians.

What Ms Chesters has to answer are why are so many of her constituents suffering rental stress at a time when billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money has been squandered providing cheap accommodation to wealthy Chinese students.

She cannot blame the China Australia Free Trade Agreement because this agreement was not signed. Just like so many Labor schemes, what looks like a great social idea at the time turns out to be a disaster. At least there were no lives lost with this scheme, unlike the pink batts – another hastily put together publicity-grabbing scheme put into action before the correct procedures had been put in place. Does Ms Chesters agree with her deputy leader that building just 26,000 out of an estimated 50,000 units with around 11,000 of those completed going to rich overseas students was a success?

Large property investors get a taxpayer subsidised tax incentive and wealthy overseas students get subsidised accommodation, this at a time when the Labor Party says tax the rich! Is this an example of how the ALP, including Ms Chesters, intends to look after Australian low income earners should they again be trusted with the public purse?