Mrs IRWIN (1:51 PM) —Last Saturday saw the real test of public concern in the New South Wales electorate of Cabramatta, which falls within my electorate of Fowler. Despite a poisonous campaign against her, the sitting Labor member, Reba Meagher, was returned with a swing to her of 19 per cent. Reba gained almost 70 per cent of the primary vote and over 80 per cent of the two-party preferred vote.

In the past year, we have seen bus loads of Howard government members, accompanied by the usual local suspects, knocking the efforts of local police and community organisations to improve Cabramatta. We even saw the member for Mackellar tear up the standing orders of this parliament to throw dirt at Cabramatta police. It backfired in a big way. The people of Cabramatta are sick of knockers. They can see that things are getting better. There is still a long way to go, but they want representation that is positive about the future and has real answers to their problems. That is what Labor is providing. I congratulate Reba Meagher on her great victory and I congratulate Bob Carr, the Premier of New South Wales. He will go down in Australian history as one of the best premiers we have had.