Hansard debates

Mr McGUIRE (Broadmeadows) (17:26:01) — (14 137) My adjournment request is to the Minister for Industry and Employment. The action I seek is for his department to report on what support is available to create employment where it is needed in Broadmeadows and assist the locally established business Freedom Wheelchairs to increase employment, potentially through the Andrews government's $68 million Jobs Victoria initiative. This project also has the potential to employ more ex-auto workers, which is significant for Melbourne's north.

The founder of Freedom Wheelchairs, Michael Buckland-Ware, is no stranger to overcoming a challenge and embracing the possible. After having his leg removed and requiring a wheelchair, Michael used his engineering know-how to design and build a chair that would give him back his dignity by allowing him to do as much as possible for himself. New activities included going places standard wheelchairs could not go. These included going to the beach to walk his dogs or up the hill between his house and his sheds to enjoy his beloved car collection. After building his own chair using tracks instead of wheels and seeing the response from others when he used it, he realised many more people could benefit from his ingenuity. This was the genesis of Freedom Wheelchairs. With freedom comes dignity and greater opportunity, the purpose underlying this business. Since conceptualising the first wheelchair, called 'The Tank', Michael has been working to bring together local manufacturers, engineers and a business team to collaborate behind the vision that created Freedom Wheelchairs.

Freedom Wheelchairs opened a factory in Broadmeadows last month. They have contracted to employ 66 local people, including ex-auto workers, refugees from the war in Iraq and the slaughter in Syria, people with disabilities and Australian Defence Force veterans through Soldier On Australia. Their products are Australian made and manufactured, and they have ambitions to make Freedom Wheelchairs an export business.

On International Women's Day, I would like to acknowledge the groundbreaking work of the former Minister for Women, Fiona Richardson, who is greatly missed by all who support this cause — and fairness. Last night the Premier, who had the leadership to launch the first royal commission into this leading criminal justice issue that we face, family violence, acknowledged Fiona Richardson's achievements and her dedication — and so did all of the Labor Party. It is a commitment that will never be forgotten. It is a dedication from everybody. And it is about time — it is well overdue — for people to rise above partisanship, see the people who make a lifelong commitment, stand behind them, not play politics and really, actually, understand how important some of these breakthroughs are, the dedication that people bring and the courage of their commitment and what it means.

That is what today was supposed to be about. It angers me deeply and it riles so many other people who want the Parliament to actually be above this stuff. Can we stand together as one and just say, 'This is what we need to do to give people a fair go'?