FEDERAL MP for Ballarat Catherine King has joined with the St Michael’s school community in Daylesford in recent days to officially open the school’s newly refurbished learning space.

The custom-designed space provides an opportunity for students to undertake independent learning or play while windows connecting the space and classrooms mean they are still supervised by their teachers.

It also provides an opportunity for students from different classes to learn and play together.

It was previously a dark and dated hallway but is now perfect for students engaged in autonomous learning or imaginary play.

The project also included the revitalisation of the school’s library and a specialised STEM room and was supported with $2 million from the federal government’s capital grants program.

Words & Images: Contributed

It has been the saddest of years for the family and friends of Samantha Murphy. 

An unfathomable loss of a wife, mother and a friend. We continue to hold them close in our thoughts and to support them.

Amid the shock and sadness we all feel, the community has stepped up in a way that shows the best of us in dealing with the worst possible news. And not just once.

The community has also stepped up following the deaths of Rebecca Young and Hannah McGuire which also happened during the last 12 difficult months.

Grief can be a long path to walk and having the support of people around you actually helps. As I have said before, we the community have another task as well – making the world we live in a safer place for women.

Simply living your life shouldn’t put you in danger. Women shouldn’t have to worry that being out by themselves at night or in the early morning, or even being behind closed doors in their own home puts them at risk. 

I wrote in an op-ed last April that how we educate our boys in this community matters, what opportunities they have to learn how to be the fabulous, beautiful men we all know in some aspects of our lives, actually really matters. 

Governments have a role to play too – with campaigns, early intervention services, a national plan from all levels of government, as well as legislated paid family and domestic violence leave and better access to childcare and early education. 

There are signs of small change. Ballarat resident Pauline O’Shannessy-Dowling has told the ABC that when she is out running, which is what Samantha was doing, men who are also running make the effort to let her know they are not a threat. 

We saw at the Ballarat Marathon, the first one last year, a concerted effort of dads running with their daughters, and really wanting to come together as a community to show how much they care about their girls. 

And there are signs of a much bigger change underway in our community. A partnership of organisations, business clubs and groups led by Women’s Health Grampians and called Communities of Respect and Equality – CoRE – Alliance share a vision for safe, equal and respectful communities. 

Membership of CoRE Alliance usually sees between one and five new organisations join each year. Since February last year, when Samantha went missing, 19 organisations have joined – 13 of those from Ballarat including a number of schools. And this significant increase is being driven by the students themselves. 

There has also been a notable increase in enquiries from organisations and individuals – particularly men – interested in CoRE and what they can do to prevent gender-based violence. 

Men’s initiative information sessions saw a massive increase in registrations, and in December, Women’s Health Grampians and the City of Ballarat held a leadership forum for men interested in learning more about how they can lead change to prevent gender-based violence in the organisations they are part of. 

(A total) 188 people attended that event, 60 per cent of whom were men. These are all the positive signs of change that we want. Again, the community is stepping up and importantly, men are stepping up very much as part of that. 

We all need to see change across our communities, and in mine, that has been incredibly important, and felt very deeply after the deaths of Samantha, of Hannah and of Rebecca. 

We want a community that is safe for everybody. Everybody, but particularly women. We need everywhere, in every community, in every place, to stop seeing violence against women. To stop losing women, like beautiful Samantha Murphy, who still had so much to give. 

And this, the week of the anniversary of her death, and as we are also leading into anniversaries for Rebecca and Hannah, my thoughts and my condolences continue to go out to their families. 

The legacy that we have from their deaths, is that we must do so, so much better to keep women safe in our communities. 

– Catherine King, Ballarat MP (Adjournment Speech, Federation Chamber, Thursday, February 6, 2025 

Ballarat Labor MP Catherine King says she welcomes what may be shaping as a large field of candidates vying for the Ballarat electorate in the next federal election.

The election can be held between next month and May 2025, with the last possible date on May 24 next year.

The Liberal Party earlier this month announced Wes McKnight as its candidate while Ms King has represented the federal Ballarat seat since 2001.

“Democracy is a wonderful thing … I welcome the announcement of the first [candidate] from the Liberal Party,” Ms King was reported saying to local media in recent days.

“[We’ve got] a great opportunity every three years to make decisions about how the country is going to be,” Ms King said.

She said her focus was on how to help people in the electorate considering cost of living pressures facing everyone, highlighting budget measures including energy bill relief, tax cuts and medication price decreases as well as Ballarat projects like the Sebastopol Hub as some of the examples of how she has helped while in government.

“We have had a drought of funding here in Ballarat under the Liberal Party,” Ms King said.

However, before Victorians vote for their federal representatives again, they have the opportunity to elect councillors in October while plenty of focus is also on the American election at the end of the year.

Amid all of this, Ms King said it was important to remember we have an “incredible democracy” in Australia.

Queensland’s Coomera Connector project is full steam ahead with the arrival of a unique piece of construction equipment onsite on the Coomera River – a 48-metre-long piling barge named the Maeve Anne – the Federal Transport Minister and Member for Ballarat says.

Catherine King MP last week issued a media statement recording that: “The Maeve Anne has made the journey from the docks at Murarrie in Brisbane to her new home on the Coomera River, where she will assist with building the nearly one-kilometre-long Coomera River bridge as part of Stage 1 North”.

Ms King’s statement issued last Monday continued:

“The Maeve Anne will be used to build a temporary jetty on the northern banks of the Coomera River, which will be used to store material and equipment, and to move supplies and people out onto the river.

“Once the jetty is installed, works will start on building 20 bridge marine piles, which will take about six months to complete. 

“The Maeve Anne will later be joined by her sister barge, the Suzanne, which will be used in the construction of the Coomera River bridge substructure, and to install bridge girders.

“The Maeve Anne is equipped with a 250-tonne crane and piling rigs that include vibratory (vibro) hammers and a fly drill and will utilise a crew of around eight specialist marine construction workers on board and the barge.

“The Suzanne will also have its own specialist crew and is equipped with a 500-tonne crawler crane.

“Local mariners will notice some changed conditions on the Coomera River around the marine construction area, including a temporary navigation channel and reduced speed limits.

“The area will be clearly marked with buoys to ensure the safety of the project team and river users.

“The Australian and Queensland governments have committed $2.16 billion to plan and build Coomera Connector Stage 1 between Coomera and Nerang, with each investing $1.07 billion.

Major construction on the Coomera Connector started in March.

“The new motorway is expected to open progressively to traffic from late 2025, with planning continuing for future stages.”

QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk: “Every milestone in the Coomera Connector’s construction puts us a step forward in getting tourists and Gold Coast locals home sooner and safer.

“The Coomera Connector ties in with the M1, the new Hope Island train station and the broader active transport network – catering for the rapid growth this region is seeing.

“Queensland’s Big Transport Build is underpinned by transformational infrastructure like the Coomera Connector, which will change the way people travel to and from the Gold Coast.”   

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King: “The Coomera Connector is a game-changer for South-East Queenslanders – it means less time stuck in traffic and more time spent with loved ones enjoying Queensland’s great lifestyle.  

“We know congestion is a significant issue for the region and frustrating for motorists, which is why we’re getting on with delivering this critical piece of infrastructure.

“Works have ramped up over the past couple of months since construction started and it is wonderful to see the new motorway construction well underway.

“The delivery of this vital piece of infrastructure is estimated to support an average of 1,000 direct jobs over the life of the project.”

The federal government is “getting on” with implementing its response to the recommendations in Dr Kerry Schott AO’s report, The Delivery of Inland Rail: An Independent Review the federal transport minister Catherine King MP says.

In a recent media release the Member for Ballarat, whose full portfolio is Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, said: “We are delivering on our commitment to set Inland Rail up for success by separating its governance and delivery arrangements from the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s (ARTC’s) day to day operations”.

Ms King’s statement issued this month also states: On 23 June 2023, the Government issued a new interim Statement of Expectations (SoE -attached) to ARTC. In it, the Government has reaffirmed its objectives and expectations for ARTC and the future delivery of Inland Rail.

In line with the Government’s response to Dr Schott’s review, ARTC is establishing a new subsidiary – Inland Rail Pty Ltd, which will govern the delivery of the Inland Rail.

The Australian Government is committed to ensuring Inland Rail Pty Ltd has the necessary expertise and independent oversight required to deliver on the Government’s objectives for Inland Rail.

Inland Rail Pty Ltd will have its own dedicated board of directors appointed by the ARTC. The six-member board, includes the Chair of ARTC as a non-executive director. The members of the new board have been chosen for their skills, qualifications, knowledge and experience, including in the delivery of nationally significant freight infrastructure projects. 

The board of Inland Rail Pty Ltd will be chaired by Mr Robert Rust, with Ms Louise Thurgood as the Deputy Chair

The three other board members are

• Ms Erin Flaherty
• Mr James Cain
• Ms Vivienne King

Inland Rail is an important project to meet Australia’s growing freight requirements and will improve road safety and help to decarbonise the economy.

The Government is delivering on its commitment to get on with building Inland Rail, with a focus on completing the sections between Beveridge in Victoria and Parkes in NSW by 2027. When complete, the southern section of Inland Rail will increase resilience and improve supply chain productivity between Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Newcastle, the Illawarra and Adelaide.

The Australian Government also wishes to thank Mr Mark Campbell for his leadership of ARTC over the last 3 years, following the announcement that he will be stepping down from his roles as Managing Director and CEO of ARTC at the end of July. Dr Kerry Schott AO, as Acting Chair of ARTC, has thanked Mr Campbell for his contribution to the company through a number of difficult years. We wish him well with his future endeavours.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King: “We are making good on our commitment to act on the recommendations of the Independent Review of Inland Rail.

“The establishment of Inland Rail Pty Ltd and the updated Statement of Expectations, are examples of this Government getting on with the job to refresh the approach to delivering Inland Rail ensure it is adequately funded and resourced.

“I am confident in the direction provided by the Statement of Expectations and in the chosen Inland Rail Pty Ltd board members, who will bring valuable industry insights and expertise to ensure the Albanese Government delivers on its commitments to Inland Rail.”  

Federal Finance Minister Katy Gallagher: “The Government has established a dedicated subsidiary company with an experienced and skilled board of directors to ensure Inland Rail is appropriately managed.

The Government’s updated Statement of Expectations brings ARTC and Inland Rail in line with highest standards of governance, transparency and accountability for corporate and government-owned entities”.