Moncrieff Electorate: Volunteers

A cost-of-living crisis, increased energy costs, higher interest rates and soaring inflation have made this year a tough one for Australians. In 2024, we’ve seen the cost of all essentials rise by at least 10 per cent and the standard of living in our great country simply go backwards. Australians are poorer under this government and are feeling the pinch as we enter the festive season. Through what has been a particularly challenging year, our dedicated community leaders in Moncrieff continue to step up to support Gold Coasters in addressing their needs.

I want to thank the many community groups that serve Moncrieff through what has been a particularly challenging year. The volunteer work of our dedicated community leaders in Moncrieff, St John’s Crisis Centre, Serving our People, Havafeed and OzHarvest, has eased the burden and brightened the world for so many locals. The Frizelle Foundation, the Gold Coast Community Fund, the Ray White Surfers Paradise Ball Muscular Dystrophy Charity Ball, the Abedian Foundation, and so many more have donated and fundraised to help those less fortunate. Thank you for always going above and beyond to provide critical support for those who suffer food insecurity, homelessness, and domestic violence or abuse. In the lead-up to and over the festive season, there becomes a heightened need for this support. As your federal member and someone who cares deeply about everybody in Moncrieff, I thank you for all the work that you do. I also want to thank the Moncrieff community cabinet made up of community and faith leaders and the Gold Coast Youth Cabinet for your commitment and dedication to Gold Coasters.

I acknowledge our Gold Coast business leaders, the great captains of our engine room, for your resilience this year in the face of significant uncertainty, rising costs, and a Labor government actively working against you. I thank the nine surf clubs in Moncrieff and their volunteers, Southport, Surfers Paradise, Northcliffe, Broadbeach, Kurrawa, Mermaid Beach and Nobby’s Beach, Miami Surf Club and North Burleigh, for the integral role you play within our coastal community and ahead of time for the big hours that you’ll put in over the Christmas break and summer holidays to keep us all safe between the flags. The good people of Moncrieff, I admire you greatly and I admire your determination, discipline, hard work, good humour and, of course, dedication to your families and our communities. It continues to be a great privilege and honour to represent you in this place. May you all have a very safe and merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year for 2025. I look forward—particularly in the coming months—to seeing you out and about in our beautiful electorate at engagements and events across Moncrieff.