Mr TUDGE (Aston) (13:48): This week is National Volunteer Week, so there is no better time than this week to highlight the role of volunteers in our community and to say thank you. Volunteers are the glue that holds together our civil society. Australian volunteers contribute more than 700 million hours of community service each year. Over 5.4 million people volunteer in some capacity each year, a number which has risen from 3.2 million 10 years ago. In my electorate of Aston over 19,000 people volunteer each year for an organisation or group, and this does not include many carers or others who volunteer individually. They do a tremendous job and often put in huge numbers of hours each week, whether it is in scouts and guides, running the local football and netball clubs or participating in local environment groups or local charities.

Last week I had the opportunity to thank some of the volunteers from one of the largest volunteer organisations in my electorate, Bridges, which was formerly known as Knox Community Volunteers. Capably led by CEO Mandi Hyland, Bridges coordinates over 2,000 volunteers to provide transport, social activities and support for elderly residents in Knox. I would like to again express my thanks to the volunteers at Bridges for their tireless work and to all the volunteers in Knox and Whitehorse. You make our community a better place and I am very proud to be your federal representative.