BY SARAH HENDERSON
\nVictorian Senator<\/p>\n
It is an honour to represent the people of Victoria as a senator in the Australian Parliament.<\/p>\n
Whether it’s standing up for women over the closure of Epworth’s maternity unit when local Labor MPs went missing in action, holding the Albanese Government to account over the skyrocketing cost of living or delivering vital services and infrastructure for our region, this is a job I take very seriously.<\/p>\n
It is also an honour to be advocating for the critical education needs of families and students as Shadow Minister for Education.<\/p>\n
As a regional Victorian and as a mother myself, I am passionate about equitable and affordable access to education which is so important in advancing our nation.<\/p>\n
Australia’s future and prosperity depends on a first-class early childhood, schooling and tertiary education system which gives young Australians the best chance to learn, thrive and help contribute to society and our place in the world.<\/p>\n
I look forward to building on the Coalition’s strong legacy in the education portfolio such as vital reforms to lift school standards, improve teacher education, deliver a better childcare system, and establish a new research commercialisation agenda for Australian universities.<\/p>\n
I was blessed to grow up in a family which encouraged me and my siblings to reach for the stars. My mother was a true inspiration \u2013 working in various roles with Deakin, the National Trust and in small business before being elected the member for Geelong in 1992.<\/p>\n
Mum knew how to get things done \u2013 such as driving the transformation of Geelong’s waterfront and prioritising the housing needs of families in crisis or people with disability as a minister in the Kennett Government.<\/p>\n
On behalf of the Coalition, I am proud to follow in my mother’s footsteps, working hard to get things done including delivering state-of-the-art roads and rail infrastructure, vital community projects and the game changing Geelong City Deal. Projects such as the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre simply would not have happened without the Liberal Party’s determination to stand up for local families.<\/p>\n
I am appalled by the state government’s incompetent delivery of major projects such as the Geelong convention centre and its failure to fund the Ballarat Link Road.<\/p>\n
Federal Labor’s cancellation of the Skenes Creek coastal walk is further evidence that it continues to treat people in the regions as second-class citizens.<\/p>\n
Under the leadership of Peter Dutton, the Opposition has a big job ahead to hold the government to account.<\/p>\n
In the wake of its broken election promise to lower electricity prices by $275 a year and with further broken promises in the wind which will likely deliver higher superannuation and income taxes, the Albanese Labor Government has demonstrated a callous disregard for the commitments it made to all Australians.<\/p>\n
It has even cut vital Medicare mental health support and delayed the delivery of urgent care clinics for the Corangamite, Corio and Ballarat electorates.<\/p>\n
On your behalf, there is much for which to fight. Thank you for the honour.<\/p>\n