Mr REPACHOLI (Hunter) (13:46) 

I never went to university, because school just wasn't for me. I know that's the case for many others in my electorate too. However, for a lot of people in the Hunter, going to Uni is a pathway they're eager to take. Higher education should be something every person in the country can access, but, let's be honest: the Hunter is a vast region. For students here, driving more than an hour the University of Newcastle campus, on top of managing heavy workloads that come with being a Uni student, creates real challenges. It's easy to see how this puts our local students at a disadvantage compared to their peers and why it might discourage people from my electorate from pursuing education. That's why the recent announcement of a university study hub at Kurri Kurri community centre is such a game changer. It provides people from across the Hunter with the opportunity to study at university without having to leave their home towns or spend hours commuting each day. This makes university a practical and achievable option for many.

I'd also like to give a special shout-out to my friend the Member for Paterson. I know how hard you worked on this, and I know how much you care about Kurri Kurri and how you've fought for this project to actually happen there. Thank you for all the work you've put in for this, the Member for Paterson, and thank you for how hard you've fought for the people of Kurri Kurri since you were a kid. I'll do my very best for the people of Kurri Kurri and take over from the amazing mark that you've left on their lives. Thank you, Member for Paterson.