Is this a suitable first bicycle ?

Hi everyone,
I'm completely new to cycling and looking to get into the hobby. I've been doing some research and the Merida Speeder 10v seems to be a good choice for me based on availability where I live and the many sizes available (I'm 188cm)
Could you guys give me some feedback on whether this bike would be a good starting point for me?
I'm a bit nervous about buying a used bike since I don't know what to look for in terms of quality and potential issues. I'd prefer to buy something brand new, but I'm not sure if the Speeder 10v is a good value for the price.
Any advice or alternative suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Here is a link

EDIT: I live in Australia where the climate is generally pretty dry and hot with alot of hills. The other bicycle I was thinking of was the triban 100 which is slightly more expensive but still within my AUD500 budget. I won't be commuting as my primary use, rather I will be cycling for fitness and enjoyment.