The newly elected member for Macarthur, Dr Mike Freelander has told federal parliament that Medicare was the Australian Labor Party’s great gift to the Australian people and “it is a gift that we intend to see keeps on giving’’.
“Medicare has been under siege many times in the last 40 years by reactionary forces and vested interests,’’ he said during his maiden speech, delivered at 5.30pm last night in the House of Representatives.
“Labor has constantly fought to protect it, especially bulk billing.
“We do need to adapt and refine Medicare as our world changes, but we must maintain a universal healthcare system and make sure that all Australians have access to the best healthcare.
“That is why I am here today,’’ Dr Freelander told parliament.
He said he felt honoured when approached to stand as the Labor candidate in Macarthur for the July 2 election.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“To win the election by such a significant margin was very humbling but I do feel a great weight of expectation upon my shoulders and will do my best to fulfil those expectations,’’ he said.[/social_quote]
Dr Freelander very graciously paid tribute to his vanquished Liberal Party opponent, Russell Matheson.
“I would like to thank the previous member Russell Matheson for his efforts and his good wishes after the election. He is a decent man and I wish him and his family well for the future.’’
The seat of Macarthur is one of the most rapidly growing in Australia, Dr Freelander told parliament.
“It was originally a farming area, the original Cowpastures, now named after John and Elizabeth Macarthur, the founders of the Australian Merino wool industry, and their descendants still live in the area,’’ Dr Freelander said.
“Macarthur has rapidly become urbanised and its population of 150,000 is increasing every day.
“Macarthur embraces many suburbs including old areas of Campbelltown, Ingleburn and Minto and new areas of Harrington Park, Oran Park, Gregory Hills and Currans Hill.
“There is great diversity in Macarthur.
“There are large areas of public housing but significant areas with house prices well over $1 million,’’ Dr Freelander said.
“Whilst the demographics are changing, the area is predominantly one of young families looking to the future with optimism.
“It has many people prominent in the arts, music and academia.
“It has prominent business people as well as many high profile sports people.
“It has a strong, well-educated workforce with a significant manufacturing base even now,’’ Dr Freelander said.
“I intend to make sure we foster local jobs so that people can work locally.
“I have promised to try and improve our local infrastructure to make the quality of life better for residents.
“This means making sure that all three levels of government and business work together to provide improvements in public transport, schools, roads, hospitals, industry and social policy so that everyone can feel included.
“I know that with cooperation at all levels we can make a big difference to how people feel about and look to the future.
“We can make substantial differences to people’s lives.
“We are all in this together and inclusion is the only approach that works.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“My overwhelming belief is that we are all in this together and we should judge a society by how it treats its most disadvantaged and most powerless,’’ Dr Freelander said.[/social_quote]
“Supporting these people is something that is a responsibility of us all, for example a proper roll out of the NDIS will make an enormous difference and I am determined to see the NDIS be rolled-out as soon as possible and as effectively as possible.’’
He said he was grateful for the support and encouragement from local Labor State MPs Greg Warren and Anoulack Chanthivong and his federal colleagues Chris Hayes and the now retired MP Laurie Ferguson.
“I am also grateful to the people of Macarthur and I am conscious of the expectations they have of me and I promise to do my best to fulfil them.’’
