E&OE.
Thanks very much.
Well, it’s great to be here with the PM and with Adam Bandt as well.
I want to say thank you to all of our colleagues and staff for their generosity in dropping gifts off. We were just exchanging stories about kids and different ages and the way that their habits have changed, and their demand for different gifts from Lego now, up to gaming and all sorts of different needs in families across the country.
I just want to say thank you very much to the Salvos and to Kmart, in particular, for this amazing initiative. As the PM says, it’s gone on for almost 40 years and that is a remarkable contribution to Australians who are less fortunate than us, who would otherwise go without presents and a lot of joy this Christmas.
So, I think people should take a lot of relief and satisfaction from the thought that you’re able to give a gift to somebody who really will be truly deserving and truly grateful for that gift as well.
The Salvos do an amazing amount of work right through the year, but this Christmas in particular, they’ll be helping a lot of families who are really doing it tough. I really want to praise the work of the Salvation Army, but all the NGOs, Foodbank and many others, right through this Christmas period, who’ll be giving to Australians who are really in need.
People, please, if you can afford to give generously in whatever form this Christmas, do so, because we live in a great country, but we want to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
I’m really pleased to be here today to contribute to – in a very bipartisan, multi-Party, across the Parliament way – send a very clear message that we’re all here as one to support Australians in a very good cause.
[ends]