Speech by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Launch of Saver Plus in Mirrabooka, Perth

Location: Perth

*** Check Against Delivery ***

Acknowledgements

  • Greg Ryan-Gadsdan, Regional General Manager, Smith Family, WA
  • Fadzi Mutambiranwa, Saver Plus Coordinator, Smith Family, WA
  • Ashley Perez, National Manager Saver Plus, Brotherhood of St Laurence
  • Paul Lewis, General Manager – Retail Distribution Australia, ANZ
  • Mark Margetic, General Manager – Retail SA/WA, ANZ
  • Louise Durack – ALP candidate for Stirling

I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land where we are meeting – the Nyoongar people – and pay my respects to the Elders, both past ands present.

It is great to be here today first hand to see the great work that you are all doing to support people save for their education and their children’s education as part of the Saver Plus program.

Mirrabooka is one of 60 communities across Australia which are now benefiting from the Australian Government’s $13.5 million expansion of Saver Plus, in partnership with the Brotherhood of St Laurence and the ANZ Bank and supported locally by organisations like the Smith Family.

Supporting 7,600 people across Australia to save to reach their education goals – for themselves and for their kids.

Here in Mirrabooka, Saver Plus is giving local people the tools they need to develop their financial skills, set savings goals and plan for the future.

It offers matched savings and financial education designed to support people to set up long term savings habits and save for their own or their children’s education.

Each dollar saved up to $500 is matched by ANZ – so $1 saved becomes $2 in the bank.

The savings participants make from investing in the Saver Plus program must be spent on their own vocational training, or the education of their children.

In the Mirrabooka area, the Smith Family and the ANZ Bank will help 120 people achieve their financial goals.

The will also receive ten hours of financial education based on the ANZ’s MoneyMinded package.

The Government has provided $148,750 to the Smith Family to deliver the Saver Plus program in the local area.

I would like to congratulate the Smith Family including the WA General Manager Greg Ryan-Gadsdan, and the ANZ represented here today by WA Chairman John Atkins, ANZ WA on the great contribution their organisations are making.

And congratulations to the Brotherhood of St Laurence for their hard work on this program, Ashley thanks for being here today.

Although it’s relatively new to Mirabooka this program has runs on the board.

An independent evaluation of Saver Plus showed that 70 per cent of past participants were still saving at the same rate – two to three years after completing the program.

I look forward to hearing how this partnership is delivering real change to the people of Mirrabooka.