SENATOR TIM AYRES, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR A FUTURE MADE IN AUSTRALIA AND TRADE: Well, I'm delighted to be here. This is such an important facility for safety, for the South Coast, for recreational vessels, for commercial vessels staffed by more than 100 volunteers who put their time in. Really pleased to announce, on behalf of the Albanese government, an election commitment, $1.39 million to support Marine Rescue's development program here. This is going to make sure that we've got a fit for purpose facility to back these volunteers, to back Marine Rescue and to support safety on the south coast. It's a commitment that Fiona Phillips, the local member, has fought hard for. She's been a real bloody nuisance, I can tell you, in the corridors in Canberra, pressing the case for this. And I'm really pleased that the government has been able to make this commitment. I'm also delighted to be here with Marine Rescue, and know that they are putting in their own 50% commitment for this. This is not the government just building this thing ourselves. This is a joint commitment from the Albanese government and Marine Rescue to make this facility happen, and it'll mean that future generations of Marine Rescue volunteers can work out of this facility for decades and decades to come. Absolutely delighted to be here. Okay, thank you.

FIONA PHILLIPS MP, MEMBER FOR GILMORE: Well, yeah, look, I'm ecstatic to be here today. Look, this is something I have been working with Shoalhaven Marine Rescue for quite a long time. I think they said to me at the 50th anniversary of the Shoalhaven Marine Rescue that I only needed to remember two words: “Pilot House”. And I did not forget that.

Look really happy to support Shoalhaven Marine Rescue. Thanks to Marty, all the team, thank you Todd for being here. Marine Rescue plays such an important role in our entire community, and across our region as well. We know that volunteers here put in so many hours to keep people safe on our waters, and that’s really important, not only for those boaters, but for those family members and everyone involved. We know that there have been so many rescues here from members of Shoalhaven Marine Rescue and it’s really important. I also just want to say thank you to all of the volunteers of Shoalhaven Marine Rescue – not only do they save people on our waters, but they’re out in our community educating people about boater safety. They’re at the markets, I saw them the other day at the HMAS Albatross Open Day. I think that says a lot, about the love for Shoalhaven Marine Rescue, and everything they put in to support Shoalhaven Marine Rescue. I just want to say thank you to everyone—I know it’s been a hard slog, it hasn’t been easy, but you’ve done the hard work, and so our volunteers can have these facilities and they’re fit for the future. Thank you.

MARTY KAYE, SHOALHAVEN MARINE RESCUE UNIT COMMANDER: Yeah, hello, there we here at Marine Rescue welcome very much this funding from the federal government. Fiona Phillips worked closely with us for the last three or four years on this, she's been very dedicated to assisting us in acquiring these funds. As you can see, we're working out of an 80 year old building here. We've occupied it for 40 years without some major renovations, a lot of capital put into it just to bring it up to scratch, it still wouldn't be a fit for purpose facility for our use, particularly into the future. The new building will accommodate a new radio room, SAR room facilities for the State Operations Group, rescue vessels, and it will serve the community for years to come as a rescue facility and as a community based function centre as well. We're hoping we can get the community involved in perhaps coming up here to present, do their presentations, Lions Clubs, or any other clubs, hopefully it'll become a little hub up here and on the headland and serve the community well for years to come.

TODD ANDREWS, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER: Thanks, Marty. So on behalf of everyone at Marine Rescue, I'd also just like to reiterate and thank the federal government for this election commitment the $1.39 million means an enormous amount to us. The way that Marine Rescue is funded at the moment, we get about 50% of our funding from the state government. We get another 30% from the boating community via a licence and a levy, and the other 20% is from things like grants and from fundraising efforts of the volunteers themselves, as Marty just touched on. There's two things that Marine Rescue really can't be without, and the first one is continued government support in terms of financing, particularly, and we're very grateful for that. And this is a real big benefit for Marine Rescue, and a great day for us today. And the second thing, obviously, is the volunteers. Now, Marty's not going to stand there and think himself, that's my job. So on behalf of everyone at Marine Rescue, I want to thank Marty, you for leading this unit, for all the volunteers of the unit, and to your families, you do an amazing job. I was just mentioning that this unit alone, in the last 12 months, has done over 75 rescues, bringing home over 180 people back safe for the shore. So it's an amazing effort from a dedicated team of people, and we really thank you for your time, your dedication and your efforts in doing what you do, which is, you know, keeping everybody safe on the water. So thank you very much.

ENDS.