New Electorate Office Nearing Completion!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNfEXFHiaeM
New facilities transform Alta-1 College
Students and staff at Alta-1 College will benefit from new facilities in Joondalup, including offices, a boardroom, meeting rooms, teacher preparation space and three student learning areas. Dean Smith, Senator for Perth’s northern suburbs, yesterday officiated at the opening ceremony for the project, which has been funded by the Morrison Coalition Government. The Morrison Government contributed $1 million for the upgrade through the Capital Grants Program, which provides funding for non-government schools to improve capital infrastructure. Senator Smith said the facilities provide a safe environment for the students to engage and learn in. “It was great to visit Alta-1 College to see the finished project and hear about the positive impact it will have on students and their teachers,” Senator Smith said. “Alta-1 College has a wonderful school community and these new facilities will further enhance the learning environment here. “We are ensuring that every child gets a quality education no matter where they go to school, but this is testament to the Morrison Government’s commitment to schools in Perth’s northern suburbs. “Our Government is providing record funding for government schools, for Catholic schools and for Independent schools. School funding has increased every year under our Government. “We are delivering real, needs-based funding that is matched by national reforms that will drive better results and outcomes, as recommended by David Gonski in his Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools.” More information about the Capital Grants Program is at https://www.education.gov.au/capital-grants-non-government-schools.
Channel Nine Perth – Wanneroo Road Interchange Opening
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pt0OlEWhhQ
ABC News – National Redress Scheme Access
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OpoN6CyGl0
COVID-19 Youth Survey reveals job worries a rising priority
104 young people responded to a COVID-19 survey designed to measure their pandemic experience. The survey, operated through Senator Dean Smith’s Facebook page, asked them to compare their concerns and priorities pre and following COVID-19. While climate change remained the greatest overall concern, the biggest change was increasing anxiety over jobs and unemployment. The results are in from Senator Dean Smith’s COVID-19 Gen Z Survey, which closed recently after running from mid-July. The survey was aimed at 18-21 year olds from Perth’s Northern Suburbs and 73% of those who responded were from that part of the city. 64% of respondents were female and 33% were male. Senator for Perth’s Northern Suburbs Dean Smith and UWA post-graduate student Jake Harvey, who is an intern in the Senator’s office, designed the survey questions. “This was a way of learning more about and better understanding how the pandemic has affected young people in the Northern Suburbs,“ Senator Smith said. “It has been wonderful to receive so many responses and get a genuine insight into what local 18-21 year olds are thinking.” “Our aim was to give young people a voice and this has achieved that, which helps me to better represent them here and in Canberra.” Respondents were asked about their top three personal concerns and top three issues for Australia, both pre and following COVID-19. Stress and mental health remained the two most significant personal concerns before and following the pandemic, however physical health replaced university fees in third place following COVID-19. “This is evidence of the pandemic’s negative effect on the mental health of young people, as well as the emerging toll on physical health with gyms closed for extended periods,” Mr Harvey said. When it came to national issues, climate change remained the top priority, but there was a significant increase in the importance of jobs as a result of COVID-19. 36% of respondents rated jobs as the biggest issue for Australia pre-COVID-19, jumping to 66% following COVID-19. “The frequency in which jobs has been selected as a top concern has nearly doubled, supporting the data that suggests young people in particular have been badly affected by pandemic job losses,” Mr Harvey said.
Adjournment Speech – Wanneroo RSL Headquarters
Congratulations again to RSL Wanneroo Sub-branch on their new clubrooms and exciting plans for the future! It was a privilege to share the news in Parliament and pay tribute to the great work its members are doing in our community.
Adjournment Speech – Derby District High School
Derby District High School students and teachers were being failed by the WA Labor Government – with crumbling asbestos buildings and insufficient toilets and showers. Here’s what I had to say about it in Parliament.
Grandstand unveiling boosts commitment to Kingsway Sporting Complex to $1.45 M
A 200-seat grandstand and new changerooms have been unveiled at Olympic Kingsway Sports Club. The transformative project was made possible by a $200,000 grant from the Morrison Government. $1.45 million has been spent by the Federal Coalition on the Kingsway Sporting Complex since 2016. Dean Smith, Senator for Perth’s Northern Suburbs, has officially opened a new grandstand and changerooms at Wanneroo’s Olympic Kingsway Sports Club. The grandstand, which will principally be used to enjoy soccer games, is capable of accommodating 200 spectators. The changerooms are incorporated into the same building, located underneath the seating area. Last Saturday afternoon, Senator Smith helped unveil two plaques to inaugurate the facilities, joined by City of Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts and Olympic Kingsway Sports Club President Steven Nelkovski. The Club, known as the ‘Green Machine’, received a $200,000 Community Development Grant from the Morrison Government for the project. The Grant is the latest instalment of the $1.45 million spent by the Federal Coalition on Kingsway Sporting Complex since the 2016 Election. Other contributions have included $500,000 towards the installation of floodlights at the Wanneroo Districts Netball Association, $400,000 to build six changerooms and storage at Wanneroo City Soccer Club and $300,000 to complete the Kingsway Aquatic Play Centre. Senator Smith said building the grandstand and changerooms was a 2016 election commitment and he was delighted it has been delivered on. “These are superb facilities that will help both players and spectators make the most of their soccer.” “The Green Machine, and President Steven Nelkovski in particular, are champions of community sport, and deserve every support,” he said. “It’s wonderful to see Olympic Kingsway Sports Club go from strength to strength and, with this upgrade, it’s now guaranteed an even brighter future.” “This grant is further proof of the Morrison Government’s real commitment to sport and recreation in our Northern Suburbs, and its commitment to delivering on its promises to locals.”
Act now on abuse redress – The West Australian
Some issues deserve to be above politics and faith. None is more worthy than securing redress for the many survivors of institutional child sexual abuse who have had their lives stolen.Without public fanfare and against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, Federal parliamentarians have been working to secure these survivors and their families more timely justice. Read the full article here >
Council Gets its Skates on – Eastern Reporter
Members of the local skating community will be able to have their say on a future skate park. City of Bayswater councilors at the July 21 meeting voted unanimously in favour of Cr Stephanie Gray’s motion to bring back the skate park development advisory committee.