I rise to inform the House of the good work that two community groups perform in the Pine Rivers electorate: the Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre and the Caboolture Regional Domestic Violence Service. I recently attended, with staff and volunteers from the Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre, a candle-lighting ceremony in Pine Rivers Park to remember the victims of domestic violence. It was pleasing to see other organisations, such as the Queensland Police Service and Zonta, supporting the event as well as members of the public.

The candle-lighting ceremony is an integral part of Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month. It reminds us all of the deadly consequences of violence in relationships and the need to challenge and change attitudes that perpetuate domestic and family violence. Domestic and family violence touches the lives of many people. It harms our friends and work colleagues. It wrecks families.

Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre is recognised by the Bligh government as one such organisation on the front line of fighting domestic violence. The neighbourhood centre plays a key role in providing information and advice, crisis support and counselling services for people in Pine Rivers and the surrounding area. The Bligh Labor government provides funding to the Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre to continue its excellent work with local residents. This year it has received over $400,000 to do so. This funding will continue each year as part of the centre’s triennial funding agreement.

The Bligh Labor government is committed to its Toward Q2 vision, which affirms its commitment to making Queensland strong, green, smart, healthy and fair. By providing funding to organisations such as neighbourhood centres, which have a key focus on healthy and fair communities, we can support our workers and volunteers who strive to keep our communities safe.

It is through the good work of organisations such as the Caboolture Regional Domestic Violence Service and the Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre that domestic violence is not hidden away in houses and ignored. I commend those organisations for their great work, as they continue to make a real difference in assisting those people who find themselves in such difficult and distressing situations. I also remind members that everybody needs to play their part in ridding our communities of the scourge of domestic violence.