I'm so grateful to be here, and before I reflect on the work of Professor Broadfoot, I just want to say that it's been, it's been a terrific journey working with the University over the last couple of decades now, with my predecessor and myself now, and the skills hub today, all of the future work that is to be laid out is really in no small part to the very strong foundations that Professor Broadfoot has put down at the university.

I think the gathering of people here today reflects the critical work that has been done over a long period of time, and that is the university being a proactive, constructive partner, not just with government as an important source of funding, but with our local education providers and training organizations, And also they're our industry partners, because what we're doing here at the university, it really only makes sense, because of that critical industrial heritage and base that we have in our region, coupled with really strong buy in from all of the education institutions. I caught up with Kara from the Callaghan College Network just a moment ago. How exciting to see public our local public education schools partnering with the university, making sure their kids coming through are part of a pipeline of remarkable young people engaged in STEM, trust me, we are going to be depending on all those people to solve a lot of these wicked problems that we confront. So I'm very excited to see that and and I think that this has been a terrific partnership over a long time, but this investment from the Albanese Labor Government is around $16 million it's part of a $20 million project. And you know, why are we investing in here? Well, I'm the member for Newcastle, so you would expect me to say, of course, it's a no brainer, but it is a really thoughtful investment into local skills, local jobs and our region's future.

I know there's a bit of debate sometimes in the chamber where I get to go and hang out in Canberra from time to time, but let me be assure you. Well, no one in this card needs assurance, but the transition is well and truly underway. You either, you know, get on board and start planning for the future, or you sit in the back stalls and miss out. Well, this region's never going to be the kind of people that sit in the back stalls, I can see from all of the people gathered here, and that is really important to us, because there are amazing opportunities ahead, although none of us are naive here, we also acknowledge there are some big challenges that come with that, and that's why New Energy Skills hubs like this one standing up now are going to be really critical in the work going forward. So, it is there are those new industries that Professor Broadfoot just mapped out for you, but there is also some really important, from an industry perspective, I think really important work to be done, not only in research in these hubs, but providing great demonstration and testing capacity.

You know, not a lot of people have thought through what those big accreditation moments are going to look like in a lot of these new industries. And that is something that Alan Broadfoot spoke to me about, oh gosh, at least, probably eight years ago. Now, I'm just trying to remember exactly when. And he was like, spot on in his thinking about what are going to be some of those issues when these new industries are standing up as well. So some really thoughtful leadership from the university around what that, not only what the partnership with well, predominantly what that partnership with industry is going to look like, because you are all doing amazing things out there in terms of the transition and what those future jobs are going to look like. But you do need support. You don't all have an, you know, a gun research and development team on board. If you're on an if you're in an SME, you need the university to be a partner. You're going to need the university to.

Be able to provide some capacity for testing and demonstration. It's a solid track record already here at the university, with the partnerships underway, and we've been able to lean in on some of those developments to provide some industry growth funding so that people can start scaling up their work, we know now where those critical points are for a lot of the industry players. So, a real tribute to all of you from the sectors who have provided sort of your skills and expertise and your worries and concerns to us so that we can make sure that the skills hub and all the work that's going to be done. We know we're going to be doubling the size of NEIR in the next little while. It's an incredible story. It's an incredible growth. I'm really part, you know, so pleased to be part of a government that is going to back those kinds of investments and that kind of leadership in regions like the hunter, we got a lot of skin in the game in this transition. And so it is, I say this all the time. It's regions like ours that will absolutely lead the way. And when we get it right, the rest of the nation's going to get it right too. So, thank you for all of your partnerships, the work. I hope you remain really engaged in the project. I know for grin the Grindley team, obviously it's going to be a big job for you guys.

I was really thrilled to read about the next life for some of the trees that have been lost here, too. And I see Lauren Collier just at the back there. I know that I understand, sorry that Wollotuka are going to make some pretty good use of some of these beautiful timbers that are going down. It's always good to see beautiful natural resources repurposed and reused, and I know they're going to get a lot of love there so and thanks to Lauren for the terrific work that you're doing, also at the University. And let's always be mindful that when we're doing this kind of work, you know, we owe a great debt to those first nations, people who have for 65,000 years or more, loved and cared for this country that you and I get to live and work on. But importantly, have to play a role in being, you know, thoughtful stewards as well.

And just in final closing, I just want to give a very personal, big shout out to Professor broadhead, as I indicated at the beginning. I suspect. I don't know if it's too big a call to say none of this would have happened without you, but it certainly wouldn't have happened in the very thoughtful and methodical way that it has Alan, and you've bought a really remarkable blend of deep experience in the industry sector with your old amp control days and all of your expertise. And I've loved having a bloke from West walls and run the show here at the university. And I could always rely on Alan to be a really straight talker whenever he thought I might be drifting or not as grounded as I need to be on a particular project in true Novocastrian spirit, he would always bring me back to Earth and go, This is what we need to do. So, I'm going to miss you terribly, but I know you're going to be here in advisory role, and that gives me a lot of great comfort too. So, I'm really very honored to be here for your last official function as director of near and I'm looking for forward to your wise counsel in the future in your new role as well.