Address-in-Reply

Ms RYAN (Lalor—Chief Government Whip) (15:27): Deputy Speaker, could I begin by congratulating you on again being the Deputy Speaker of this House, for this term. I rise, newly re-elected, with deep gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose to represent the people of Lalor for another term in this place. I want to begin by thanking the people of Lalor for placing their trust in me once again and assuring them that, again, I feel the weight of responsibility and the privilege of service.

I will obviously be called shortly to make way, to cede, for my good friend the new member for Gorton in her first speech. But, before that, I want to pay tribute to the volunteers, supporters and campaign workers who worked tirelessly to support my re-election and the return of the Albanese Labor government. I want to thank them and those who join us today to hear from the member for Gorton, who helped on that campaign. I want to thank the people who worked across the country to see the re-election of the Albanese Labor government. I offer my deepest gratitude and, I know, the gratitude of all who sit on this side of the House. Thank you for the early mornings, the late nights, the phone banking, the doorknocking, the letterboxing and for standing with me in the typical Melbourne elements of the rain, the wind and the sunshine—often in the same hour—at prepoll. To all of those across the country who worked so hard: your belief in our collective mission not just keeps my drive alive but drives all of us on this side of the House to be the responsible second-term Labor government set to deliver on our commitments to support people in this cost-of-living crisis and support them to ensure that they can keep the roofs over the heads of their families, keep food on the table and, more importantly, keep themselves healthy through our commitments to Medicare.

It is an absolute pleasure to be in a chamber full of some recently elected Labor MPs who believe in this collective mission as well. I know that people in my community at home, when they see this speech, will be warmed by the numbers in this chamber—not just by the numbers but by the diversity that's reflected in this chamber—because this chamber is starting look a lot like my electorate, just quietly. And I know it's looking a lot like the member for Gellibrand's electorate and a lot like the member for Gorton's electorate. In fact, it's starting to look like electorates across our country. Obviously we've got more work to do, but we're really pleased—and I know that there's a minister behind me who's really pleased—to see us as a majority government with a majority of women members. I know that's something that 30 years ago, when we passed affirmative action laws at a national conference, those women who were on the floor that day fighting so hard for gender equality would be so, so proud to see us all take our places in this chamber today.

To continue, I know that in my electorate, from the Werribee South farms to the burgeoning new housing estates in Manor Lakes and Mambourin, from the long-established communities of Werribee and Hoppers Crossing to the communities growing around our newest schools in Tarneit, we are a community of consolidating and deepening connections, finding our collective voice. We're a thriving snapshot of modern Australia, with multiple languages spoken. Our vibrant places of worship, sport, education, food and businesses, our schools and our shopping centres, our sporting fields and our recreation areas, and our workplaces and our growing restaurant scene all reflect the broader world. We in Lalor are truly a global community. With that comes extraordinary opportunity and, yes, some challenges, but nothing that will ultimately impede us from making the most of our promising future.

I know that those words can be shared in every electorate across this country because we are building a new, modern Australia reflective of the globe and everything that that means. I walk into classrooms in my electorate, and I'm so proud to see the multiculturalism reflected back at me. But that's not just because of it's difference or it's diversity; it's because at the core of it there's an aspiration—an aspiration about what this country can be, an aspiration about where we might end this journey with a truly, truly global country in the South Pacific and what that will mean for the world. We will be a beacon for how we can live together, for how we can plan together, for how we can create communities across our country and across the world where people's race, ethnicity, colour, gender—where diversity is celebrated everywhere, not just in the schools in my electorate but across our great country and across the globe.

Deputy Speaker, I believe you're about to call time on my contribution at the moment. I will give that time and look forward to returning to my address-in-reply speech at a later hour.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ): I thank the Chief Government Whip. You'll be able to seek leave to make your remarks in continuation a little later on. Before I call the honourable member for Gorton, I remind the House that this is the honourable member's first speech and I ask the House to extend to her all of the usual courtesies.

Ms JORDAN-BAIRD (Gorton) (15:33): It is the greatest honour of my life to rise before you today as the member for Gorton. The golden wattle above your chair, Deputy Speaker, is a powerful symbol of our country. Golden wattle is our national flower. It reminds us of our connection in this place to flora and fauna, to our lands and our waterways. For our First Peoples, it's a connection tens of thousands of years strong.

I want to begin by acknowledging the lands on which we are gathered, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, the traditional custodians of the Canberra area, and in my own community, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past and present as well as any First Nations people joining us today. Sixty-five thousand years as the longest continuing culture in the world is something we can all be proud of. I too am proud of our reconciliation journey towards treaty as we walk country together—always was, always will be. I'm also extremely honoured to be the first woman elected to the seat of Gorton and to join such a large group of incredible women in our Labor caucus.

I'd like to begin my thankyous by paying tribute to my predecessor, the Hon. Brendan O'Connor. He was the first ever member for Gorton and, prior to that, the member for Burke. It's an honour to follow in his footsteps, and I'd like to thank him for his mentorship, sage advice and wisdom over the last few months. Brendan can look around the electorate at all he's achieved locally and see his legacy in our community, in Melbourne's west, and around Australia through his contribution to this parliament. Brendan, thank you for your commitment and service to the people of Gorton.

I wouldn't be here without the thousands of hours that hundreds of volunteers from our incredible Labor branches and union movement put into our grassroots campaign. It can be daunting being a new candidate in a federal election, but I was surrounded by a band of warriors that were with me every step of the way. Thousands of doors were knocked, and phone calls were made. There were real conversations with people about real issues.

Callum Rees steered the ship of our amazing campaign team with support from field organiser Amelia Seevia together with Gabriella Dawson, Skye Griffiths, Ian Herbert, Ruby Nunns, Bassel Tallel, Ben Fourniotis, Zeynep Yesilyurt, Corey Perkins, Mem Suleyman, Gamini Perara, Ravi Singh, Sisay Dinku, Matt Pearse, James Maccaron, Tanmay Kabir, Avtar Singh, Simarjeet Singh, Gary Verma, Jared Sheehan and Rhea Verma. There's an even longer list of people who gave their time, energy and heart to our campaign. I am here today because of you—all of you. Thank you for your passion and belief. I also stand on the shoulders of Labor giants: Ian Herbert, Dawn Clark, Hucki Suleyman, Marlene Gorman, Marlene Borg, Lindsay Knight and others—the true believers of Gorton. To the entire Labor team, including Paul Erickson, Jen Light, Steve Staikos and Jett Fogarty: thank you. To Steve Le and Susan Crebbin: thank you.

I'd like to pay tribute to our union movement—in particular, my union, the mighty Transport Workers' Union, and every member of this proud organisation. Thank you to Michael Kaine, Emily McMillan, Sam Lynch and Richard Olsen for all you do to protect the rights of transport workers every day. I'd also like to thank the RTBU and the SDA for their support in my campaign.

To the Prime Minister: it feels like years ago that we had coffee at Sweet Lulus cafe in Keilor and shared stories about how AFL is better than NRL. Thank you for all of your support and for showing us that kindness and care should be at the centre of our leadership. It's an honour to join your Labor team.

To the Deputy Prime Minister, who I welcomed a number of times to the seat of Gorton throughout the campaign: I've been very grateful for your friendship and advice, particularly over the last few months.

I'd like to thank a number of senior colleagues in this room who have mentored me and shown me the ropes. To my dear friend the member for Hawke, who is behind me: thank you. You are incredible. I'll forever appreciate your support, advice and banter. To the member for Ballarat, who launched my campaign: thank you. To my friends the member for Gellibrand, the member for Lalor, the member for Hotham, the member for McEwen, the member for Fraser and Senator Jana Stewart: thank you.

To my state colleagues, including Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, Minister Natalie Suleyman, Luba Grigorovitch, Martha Haylett and Ella George: thank you for helping me navigate this next chapter and beyond. To the Hon. James Merlino: I have learnt so much about leadership and kindness from you. Thank you for your support.

There are two friends I'd love to acknowledge that are very dear to me. They are Sam Lynch and Martha Haylett, who are here today with their beautiful son, Liam. Thank you for helping me through the imposter syndrome, for helping me see that people like me, who don't fit the traditional mould of a federal candidate, could dream of serving their community by running for parliament. You're two of the sharpest minds of our country, and I am in awe of both of you. I wouldn't be here without you, and your friendship means more to me than you'll ever know.

Finally, and most importantly, I'd like to thank the people of Gorton. Thank you for putting your trust in me. Please know—every day and with every decision—I'll be working to represent you, your family and our community, whether or not you voted for me.

I am the way I am, and I am Labor, because of my family and my community. My girlfriends, many of whom are here today, have been there with me through some of toughest, scariest, nerve-racking, life-altering times in my life. They've also danced with me through some of the best. You have been an incredible source of support and an incredible reminder of how much female friendships are the very best gift. There's a reason I had seven bridesmaids at my wedding. To my wonderful in-laws, Maria and Paul Paduano, to Stephanie and Ross Dyson and to my beautiful nieces Sierra and Grace: I couldn't ask for a more supportive family to marry into. To my cousins Cassandra and Penelope Jordan: you are like sisters to me.

When this opportunity came up, I asked my husband, Chris Paduano, if this was a good idea. His reply was: 'Of course it is. Say yes and we'll work out the details later. You can do this, and we can do this.' We met at a 21st birthday party after a few beers on a rainy night in the Keilor Hotel in the north of the Gorton electorate and, fittingly, nearly 10 years later, we spent our first wedding anniversary at the Caroline Springs Scout Centre, talking to voters on pre-poll, also in the rain. Chris, you have been on board with this idea from the very first second it became a possibility. You are the love of my life and I cannot thank you enough.

My parents are rail professionals and are both examples of passionate, hardworking Australians who inspired us to dream big. Politics was always part of our upbringing, unavoidable given my parents met at an anti-uranium mining rally while at Monash University on a protest bike ride to this very place. My dad is a railway signalling engineer who would often take my sisters and I to look at rail level crossings as kids. Through him we learnt the importance of rail transport infrastructure and planning for the growth of Melbourne. It also meant, while my friends were at home watching Round the Twist, I was learning the difference between standard and broad-gauge rail tracks.

I also need to pay tribute to the women in my family. I am the granddaughter, the daughter and the sister of fierce women. My grandmother Jean Lynette Steele raised six kids and was a Melbourne based school teacher who did her time in the Australian Women's Land Army when the Second World War broke out. My mother, Prue Jordan, was one of the first women to work on the Melbourne underground rail loop, these days known as the city loop, at a time when the railways were dominated by men. My oldest sister Emily continues that legacy as an amazing infrastructure lawyer, working on some of Melbourne's major transport projects. I'm excited that she has recently become a new mother to her son, James.

Anyone who has one will know that big sisters are special. They inspire, they mentor and they ground you, which brings me to my other sister, Clara Jordan-Baird. Clara is the reason I have the courage to put my hand up for public office. She is one of the reasons I am here today as the member for Gorton. Clara spoke a mile a minute and had a relentless optimism about politics and the western suburbs of Melbourne. When I was a teenager, I started working in hospitality for a local burger joint. My employer strongly encouraged me into signing up for a traineeship that they said justified my low wages. Protecting the rights of and supporting young people is something close to my heart and one of the reasons I joined the Australian Labor Party. Clara felt the same and campaigned to protect the rights of interns and for quality paid internships as national policy director of interns Australia. She campaigned against the Youth Jobs PaTH program set up by the then federal Liberal government. This program meant that employers could disguise entry level jobs such as cafe staff and shop assistants as 'internships' and pay below minimum wage. Together we joined Young Labor and supported candidates and members in state and federal campaigns, knocking on doors, winning hearts and minds. Some members of this place knew Clara, and she loved the time in Canberra as she worked for my friend the member for Gellibrand. After a stint as an associate in the Supreme Court she went on to become a property lawyer, paving the way for housing estates to be built in Melbourne's western suburbs. As the younger sister, I was in awe of my sister Clara; she was my other half, so when she passed away suddenly in her workplace in 2017 at just 28 years old, my family and I were absolutely devastated. Her memorial filled the Victorian Trades Hall with family and friends, many of whom are here today. So big and profound was her contribution to the west, there is a street named after her in Mount Atkinson, Clara Avenue, fittingly right in the heart of the Gorton electorate.

Grief can be paralysing, raw. Some days it is truly debilitating. Many people in this place will know what that feels like. But after some time has passed, grief can sometimes be motivating, and for me it crystallised what's important—to me, to my family and to my community. For those who knew her, Clara's determination and drive for positive change was contagious, and she lit that spark and determination in me as well.

My career isn't as linear as many of my colleagues in this place. I studied science and majored in neuroscience, and I have a background in education, public transport and water policy. As diverse as my career has been, one thing has remained a constant: my connection to the western suburbs. It's where I live and where I've played Aussie Rules for the Western Spurs and West Footscray Roosters. It's where my family lives and where Chris and I are excited to start our own family one day. We're not alone in this ambition. Gorton is one of the fastest growing electorates in the country. Close to 50 babies are born a week in the City of Melton alone. We need to plan ahead for our growing outer suburbs by ensuring adequate infrastructure and services before houses are built. Planning for GP clinics, businesses, child care, schools, train stations, proper roads and freeways for our new suburbs is vital. One of the keys to building this is the Melbourne Airport rail link, which paves the way for the electrification of the Melton train line. These upgrades are essential for preparing for the growth of the west, and I am so proud the federal Labor government has committed to making Sunshine superhub a reality.

As communities like mine continue to grow, and grow fast, infrastructure must keep up. We also need to plan in a way that takes climate change into account and an evolving flood plain so we can build more houses without flooding others. Better planning also means getting the basics right—simple things like building roads wide enough for more than one car in our brand-new housing estates. Planning new housing estates is a huge issue in my electorate. It's why we need to look at clear enforceable standards for the new estates and we need to hold developers to account—no more families spending their life savings on broken promises when they were sold another picture. The path to homeownership is hard enough.

Another reason I am proudly Labor is Medicare. We are lucky to have one of the best healthcare systems in the world—a system conceptualised, built and strengthened by Labor. It's no secret that our Medicare card is the colours of golden wattle: yellow and green. Medicare is one of the reasons we live in the best country in the world. I had the honour of volunteering at the wonderful Royal Children's Hospital in Parkville for a number of years. I supported the music and play therapists on the wards as children were undergoing treatment for some of the most serious medical conditions imaginable. I sat with parents and children through some of the hardest, most anxious times of their lives and helped give kids a chance to play and let them feel like they were just like other kids, to help them find laughter and light in moments of stress and hard conversations. I saw firsthand how our world-class healthcare system supports Victorian families during some incredibly difficult times.

At the same time we must recognise an inescapable truth: people in my community in the west do not have the same health outcomes as they do in the eastern suburbs of the same city, let alone in rural and regional areas. This is simply unacceptable. The need is clear: we need to make health care more accessible. When people are struggling to pay the bills, they'll put off seeing a GP and pay for groceries instead. I am so proud of Labor's commitments to further strengthen Medicare, in particular expanding the number of urgent care clinics and boosting women's health services, but I'll continue to fight for more bulk-billed GPs, specialists, hospitals and outpatient services that are accessible to those in my electorate. Gorton is one of the youngest electorates in the country, with a median age of 35. High-quality early childhood education, schools, TAFE and universities are imperative. I was so pleased when the Albanese government announced they would be fully funding every single public school in Australia. A good education, a good school or a good teacher is transformative, and it shouldn't matter what postcode you live in or what your bank balance is; every Australian deserves that opportunity.

I was proud to work on the Victorian secondary school policy reforms in the applied learning space, bringing the former VCAL into the VCE. These reforms are about giving vocational skills the same respect and recognition as academic ones and ensuring we have the skilled workforce to build Australia's future. My husband, Chris, is a mature aged electrical apprentice now in his second year. He was able to make that career change later in life as a result of Labor's free TAFE. Last year, TAFE was legislated to be made free permanently by the Labor government. That's what young people and families in the western suburbs want—high-quality apprenticeships and schools that lead to good jobs, close to home.

The ideas I've talked about today, ensuring our outer suburbs have the infrastructure, health care and education they need, are the core values of our Labor Party and as Australians. We, on this side of the house, are ambitious about our future. We believe that everyone deserves care and compassion, not just those of the deepest pockets or the loudest voices. Together, we look out for each other and ensure no-one is left behind. It's the reason so many new Australians choose to make our nation their home. I'm proud to represent a wonderfully diverse, multicultural community. Our country's history is the story of migrants. It's in our national anthem:

For those who've come across the seas

We've boundless plains to share;

My ancestors came over here by boat from Scotland and England just over 100 years ago. Like so many, they came seeking opportunity, and like so many since, they helped build the nation we're proud to call home today. Migrants are the backbone of our community and our economy. Today, I want to share three local stories from people I met during the campaign that bring that to life.

Aasta is a teenager who is currently working at her family's automotive business in Ravenhall, next to Caroline Springs. She is from the Sikh community and is one of the only women in her automotive management class at TAFE. She's learning the skills to one day take the reins and continue the family business. Diana runs a wonderful cafe in the heart of Keilor village with her husband, Ahmad. Originally from Lebanon, they moved around the world before finding their home in Australia seven years ago. Together, they've poured everything into their cafe, building not just a business but a place of connection. Joe is an older Maltese man I met while doorknocking in Burnside. He left behind war and hardship and made a new life for himself and his family in Melbourne's west, whilst serving our country in the army.

Aasta, Diana, Ahmad and Joe—each of their stories shares a common thread. Each one is hardworking, generous and looks after their neighbours. They should all be role models to us here in this place, because we live in the best country in the world. We should be proud of that. We must protect that. The connotations of the word 'patriotism' has changed a lot in the last few decades. Today, the word is too often used as a way to divide and exclude. I believe we can express the love of our country in many different ways. Members in this place will recognise it in the local citizenship ceremonies we have the honour of attending. The energy in that room is magic—the joy, the connection and the immense pride felt by families starting a new chapter. In those moments, we see an inclusive kind of patriotism—one that recognises diversity and unity of our modern Australia. We see it in other ways too. We see it in the volunteers who give up their weekends to run sausage sizzles, pack food hampers or coach the local footy team. We see it in our nurses, doctors and ambos, who show up day in and day out to care for their communities. We see it in our teachers and educators, who know that learning is life changing. We see it in our bus drivers, truck drivers and airline workers—those hardworking Australians that quite literally keep our country moving. We see it in the actions of everyday Australians—people who are fundamentally decent and hopeful about our future.

On that note, I return to the golden wattle above your chair. I wear a bottle brooch, as well, on my lapel in this chamber. Like our First Australians, the wattle tree has been here for thousands of years. It is a symbol of strength, survival and renewal, much like our country's story. Like the wattle, our nation's strength comes from the deep connections we share across communities, cultures and generations. It reminds us that no matter the challenges we face, we can only grow stronger together. We should be proud to love our country as progressive patriots. As her favourite bloom, wattle also reminds me of Clara. Clara rhymes with Sarah. Like me, she loved our nation profoundly and believed deeply in our democratic institutions. I remember early on in my career asking for her advice. She told me, 'Go where the work is interesting.' Now I know what she really meant was, 'Go where you can make a difference.' So here I am, and I can't wait to get started.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the honourable member for Leichhardt, I remind the House that this is the honourable member's first speech, and I ask the House to extend to him the usual courtesies.

Mr MATT SMITH (Leichhardt) (15:57): I stand and acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we stand on today. I pay respects to elders past, present and emerging. I celebrate the world's oldest living culture—65,000 years of songlines and connection to land, sea and country. They tell a story of beauty, resilience and strength.

There have been 1,276 federal members of parliament since Federation. Some have soared and will be remembered as great leaders. Some have broken down barriers and created change. All have entered this place to make Australia better. Their first speech was their way to introduce themselves, their ideas, their values and their ambitions. The tradition has endured, and, 1,270 or so speakers later, it is my turn. This is not as easy as it sounds. How does one person distil everything they are and their ambitions for the electorate and the country into 20 minutes while wearing a tie—a tie he had to buy four weeks ago because he only owned one! That last sentence is not a part of the collective MP experience, and I apologise.

Leichhardt, which I have the honour of representing, stretches from the southern suburbs of Cairns; hugs the coast taking in Kuranda, Mossman and Port Douglas; takes a hard left; and runs up the cape all the way to the Torres Strait. Leichhardt is a place of unfathomable beauty and diversity. It is the most Australian place in Australia. Leichhardt is home to two ancient and distinct cultures: the cultures of Zenadh Kes, meaning the people of the land, sea and sky of the Torres Strait; and, of course, of the Dreaming, the songlines of the many different Aboriginal peoples of the Cape York and the Far North. When you travel to community or to one of the islands in the Torres Strait, the culture breathes. You can feel it. In the Aurukun, children speak to me first in Wik. Everyone else there they know speaks Wik, so they figure I should also speak Wik, and that is beauty.

The Midnight Oil song 'Beds are Burning', allegedly the 18th-best Australian song of all time—it should have been higher, but I didn't vote for it; that's on me—references the forced removal of the people of Mapoon from their traditional homes. Well, this year marks the 50-year anniversary of those people giving the finger to governments and mining companies and going right back. That is resilience.

The Torres Strait also punches hard above its weight. It is of course the birthplace of Uncle Koiki Mabo, a man of Mer Island, who, with his fellow plaintiffs, overturned terra nullius. And that is strength. I am proud to call Maria Tapim, daughter of plaintiff Dave Passi, my friend.

The Cape is the great frontier. There you'll find mining, agriculture, fishing, tourism, small business and services. It is a place where people go to find themselves, or lose themselves. You head up to the Cape to live your last either six months or 30 years. There is no in-between. I met a bloke in Weipa who told me he'd drifted up north on a fishing trip in the mid-eighties, wet a line off the bridge, caught a barra and thought, 'Yep; I live here now'! He got a job at Rio and is proud that his daughter is now working the mines with him and at the lifestyle he has provided for his family across generations.

Beneath the Cape lies the Cairns and Port Douglas area, the tourism heart of Australia. Our tourism industry is second to none and works hard to protect and promote our natural assets, the most important being the Great Barrier Reef, which supplies 64,000 jobs. When international tourists think of Australia they think of our reef. And Cairns is a thriving modern city, welcoming people from all over the world to holiday and to live. This is reflected in the celebrations held by our communities. Each cohort of migrants has brought something new to the area. The Italians played a massive part in our sugar industry. The Chinese ran the market gardens. And now the African- and Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees are calling Cairns home, and bringing with them vibrancy and hope for their lives in Australia.

The Far North, especially Leichhardt, sits on the edge of greatness, and we are uniquely positioned. We could be a global powerhouse for renewable energy. We have the wind, we have the rain, we have the space and we have the sun. Our critical minerals are in abundance. If I sound optimistic it's because I am. A future made in Australia could just as easily be a future made in the Far North. Our region has so much untapped potential. We are the gateway to the South Pacific. With our proximity Asia, all roads lead north.

Of course, the area does have its challenges. Our tourism industry is still trying to work its way back from COVID, and the reputational infrastructural damages from natural disasters have not helped. But I say this very clearly: come north; you will have the time of your life. We are open for your business.

Connectivity remains an issue. I was heartened when it was announced during the campaign that we'd be working to get all of Leichhardt to have mobile coverage. This will improve business, health and educational opportunities right throughout the electorate. It will make people safer.

A large chunk of the electorate is cut off by road every wet season and relies on sea freight, driving up costs for small business and creating other challenges.

Climate change is hurting the Torres Strait. On the island of Masig, the bodies of the ancestors and more recently departed family members, including babies, are washed out to sea when the cemetery gets inundated. I have spoken to members of the threatened communities, who have told me quite clearly that they will not leave their babies, and when the sea comes for them they'll sit, wait and accept their fate. For saltwater people, the sea being a threat is an existential crisis of its own, and this is the stark reality. The first lot of climate refugees will not come from the South Pacific but from our own country.

The Far North represents 10 per cent of all domestic violence call outs in Queensland, and we have had enough tragedy. I was deeply affected by a murder-suicide that rocked our region. I attend many rallies calling for an end to domestic and family violence and gendered violence—events like Reclaim the Night. Too often I'm one of the only male voices in the room. Men of Australia, I challenge you to step up on this issue. Recent statistics say 32 per cent of men have confessed to using coercive control on women; 10 per cent copped to using physical violence. To put that into perspective, on a cricket team, statistically one team mate beats his partner.

Far too often, violence begets violence, and intergenerational trauma is a real thing. For children witnessing domestic and family violence, the prism through which they see the world is darkened. Sons are taught to be perpetrators, and our daughters are taught to accept it. As men, we have to call out this behaviour, protect those we love and help other men to break the cycle and deal with the mental health issues that exacerbate violence. We owe this to our children and to ourselves.

I have been an athlete, a sport and rec officer and a union organiser, and now I'm here. 'Why' is a good question. When Senator Green walked into my office last year I'd been in Cairns nearly 20 years. I arrived there at 25 on my last chance in the NBL. I found a good home and good coaches and led the league in field goal percentage in 2007. I won a national championship with the Marlins in the QBL with the first Indigenous NBA player, Nathan Jawai, and the rest of my friends. My NBL career came to an end in 2008-09 when the Taipans went broke. The GFC had hit everyone hard, and the Taipans were not immune. The owner, John O'Brien, generously sponsored most events and sporting teams in Cairns. John came into training one morning and told us what'd happened. It was a hard conversation. It took courage from a man who had lost everything to front us, and it spoke volumes about who he was as a person. We went from preparing to play Sydney to not knowing if we would see out the week. The liquidators were called in, and we were ultimately offered a choice: take a redundancy of sorts, get paid and the Taipans would disappear forever; or play on, take a 75 per cent pay cut and maybe Taipans survive. We the players were also told we had to fire two of our teammates to continue, Dave and Larry. Thankfully, Dave and Larry quit before we were forced to vote. I caught up with Larry a couple of years ago in LA; I have not seen Dave since.

I had just turned 29, my daughter Sienna was not yet walking and many of us were experiencing the early stages of fatherhood. To ask the players to take that he was too much, but we did it. In a unanimous decision we decided to press forward even though we knew in our hearts knew there was precisely zero chance of the Taipans getting sold. It was the height of the GFC, and Cairns was on its knees. No buyer came forth, and we played on with reduced access to training facilities and things like food. Then one of the most audacious plans in Australian sport was hatched by people like Denis Donaghy, Mike Scott and Mark Beecroft: the Taipans would be floated publicly as an incorporated organisation, and the town would buy the team. People who were really struggling dug deep—$50 here, a couple of grand there. The people of Cairns, facing the largest economic downturn they had ever seen, raised the money to buy the licence and keep the Taipans. Every family that comes to games, every business that benefits from the Taipans bringing 4000 people into the CBD, every school clinic, every autograph and every win belong to the 10 young men in that room and the community that decided to back them. It was my proudest moment as an athlete, the day we decided the town and the team were bigger and more important than ourselves, and the town met us. That is what Far North Queensland is: backs against the wall, we come out swinging and we protect what is ours. The season had ended, and I never played NBL again.

Post basketball, like many athletes, I was a bit lost. I worked for the former member for Leichhardt, Jim Turnour, who at the time held the seat, and former senator Jan McLucas, before making my way into the sport and rec industry. Without the structure and identity that basketball gave me I quickly spiralled into depression. I will not pretend that it was fine. I lost five years of my life wildly oscillating between a fight-or-flight response and numb blankness. I looked at every possible option to make it stop. In the end, salvation came from three things: professional help, a renewed focus on my physical fitness and a return to the sport. With the encouragement of my friend Jamie Pearlman, a former Taipans player, I found my way back into the Queensland Basketball League, and then I rediscovered me. I found the strength I needed to get out of depression in asking others for help, not drowning in my own ego and weird perceptions of masculinity. Professional sport asks you to be an invulnerable, unbeatable hero. The people will love you for it, and you will love you for it. When it's all over and the crowds go away, it can be hard for Superman to only be Clark Kent. I said goodbye to elite basketball on my own terms in 2018. We'd had a beautiful run of 20 years together, and as my body aged and my skills diminished I learned that it's nicer being vulnerable, being available, being kind and being a real person—being Clark.

After that I had a brief but stroke impacted dalliance with Australian rules football. I do not recommend strokes—zero out of 10. But years of sport had put me in good stead. I played angry; my best work on court was in an absolute rage, and having a stroke made me really mad. I aggressively attacked rehab and found my way back. I stand before you with no lasting impacts, except this little finger's a bit weird, which only impacts my guitar-playing—which is fine, because after all, how many times do you need to hear Wonderwall? You have no idea how long I debated whether I was going to sing that line. At the end of 2018 I found my partner Renee, or she found me. She is a world-class triathlete and coach, having represented New Zealand numerous times, and recently she became Australian. I love her very much, I'm very proud of her and I love having her in my corner. Through Renee I found a new hobby in scuba diving. Together we take advantage of the World Heritage areas on our doorstep. My children dive too. Renee gave us a gift that we can all enjoy together. I love her; she makes me better. Life is a team sport.

Eventually I answered a job in the Cairns Post and I became a union organiser. It's all very normal; it's very Australian, and that's the point. I've made some interesting career choices, but when Senator Green discovered me and asked me to consider putting my hand up, she found me in an office, not on the basketball court. I said no. I was happy organising, working for Together and helping public sector workers. I'd travel up the cape for work, where I'd run free basketball clinics and the occasional shoe drive. But a few weeks later I did an event with Craig Foster, the former Socceroo captain and great. We chatted about our careers, how fortunate our lives had been and some of the work we've done with community. Craig ended up challenging me: 'What do you do? You've been given a lot by this community. How do you give back?' I'd been in Cairns 20 years; I owe it a lot. I was picked up off the scrap heap by the Taipans. I have a family, a partner, a couple of Chihuahuas, a community and a home. As I considered all of this it dawned on me that this would be the best way to pay down that debt, so I stand here to represent Leichhardt not out of ambition but out of obligation and out of love.

My lens, like everyone's, is tinted by the experience of the people who came before me: a deserter from the Second Fleet, a soldier in the second wave of Gallipoli, an illegal Chinese immigrant during the gold rush and some who were already here when the rest of them arrived. My own immediate family exposed me to people who make a difference. My grandfather Bill was a food scientist at CSIRO who built Australia's first gas chromatograph and invented Twistie flavouring. You're all very welcome. My grandmother Pat was a dispatcher for a taxi company. She took me to the zoo and to the theatre in Melbourne. My other grandfather, John, oversaw the building of the telephone lines in East Gippsland and was mayor of Sale while I was growing up. My grandmother Mary was a teacher. They lived around the corner, and she looked after me as a child. She read me Kipling. They loved me and my sister very much. John taught me pool. It was amazing how close the games were, until the day I beat him—never close again. Bill once called me from his nursing home when he'd heard I got a job with the Together union. The conversation was quick: 'I hear you're a union man now, son—good honest work, unions.' That was it. It occurred to me that this was the first job I'd ever had that he could relate to. I reckon he would probably enjoy this moment. I was lucky to have all four grandparents into my adulthood. They saw me achieve many of my childhood dreams and were an integral part of my life growing up.

My aunt Michelle, who unfortunately couldn't be here today, made a career with the Victorian police and let me live with her early in my basketball career. My aunt Carolyn was a gallery director and mayor of Wellington shire in Gippsland. She lived across the road when I was a child, which was kind of like a communal space for us kids, rather than two separate houses. Both my parents, Mike and Wendy, teach. Over the past 50 years there would be very few kids in Sale that have not had some interaction with my folks. They have helped write the future of thousands and thousands of people. My sister is a geologist who works the mineral sands in Mildura, where she lives with her husband and their two boys. I have two daughters, Sienna and Scarlett, whom I am immensely proud of. They are better than me, they will get to make choices and build their own futures and I can't wait to see it.

It was 12 months ago last week that the Prime Minister came to announce me as the candidate in Leichhardt. We walked the Cairns Show together and, watching him in those interactions, I was struck by the enthusiasm, the kindness and the generosity with which he chatted to show-goers, took selfies and just enjoyed the moment. The PM visited many times over the campaign. On one occasion we ended up playing pickleball. I drop-shotted him, just to test the legs a little bit. He got onto it a little bit faster than I would have liked, so I started hitting it to the kid after that. I'm not losing on TV. Thank you, Prime Minister, for starting me on this journey. Thank you for your support and your confidence, even when mine would sometimes waver.

In the intervening 12 months as a candidate and now as a member I have been asked lots of questions about myself. To answer them, I have used the first person a lot—'I did this, I did that, I played in the NBL, I, I, I.' But, when I take step back and look at my whole life, the 'I' doesn't exist. I grew up in a stable home with food, good medical care and love. I built off the back of my parents and my grandparents. We wanted for nothing. I became good at basketball because my parents, Mike and Wendy, drove me everywhere, investing time and money in the dreams of a gangly youth. Other enthusiastic parents of friends tried their best to coach us and travelled to Melbourne and rebounded shots so that we could all enjoy our favourite sport. I got my first NBL look because a man I had never met saw me at a development camp and called in some favours. I got up to Cairns because my friend Vince Crivelli coached me and helped me through some tough times to get me back into the league and made some calls to NBL teams, asking them, pleading, to give me a shot. I had my first-ever office job at age 30 because former senator Jan McLucas took the time to house-train me. And I got my shot at organising because Kate Flanders and Alex Scott from the Together Union saw something in a sport and rec officer and took a flyer on some of their schemes.

None of this happens alone. The 'I' is always a 'we'. I stand before you today not because of my own brilliance but because of people like the Prime Minister, Senator Murray Watt, Carolyn MacDonald, Kate Flanders, Heather Hayes, Tony Fulton, Alex Scott, Dee Spink and especially Senator Nita Green—she was there on day one and has travelled all the way from the Senate to hear me speak today! They all encouraged me. They helped me decide to put my hand up and supported me through the campaign. This seat was won not on the back of my magnificent oration but on the back of the thousands of hours of work done by an army of volunteers in a truly unforgiving wet season, some of whom had been hoping for Labor to take Leichhardt for 15 years.

Since the election, my transition has been made smoother not because of my awesome knowledge of parliamentary procedure but because former member Warren Entsch, despite coming from the opposite side of the aisle, has helped me navigate this large and diverse electorate. This is a collaborative approach. I am drawn to teams and, with my staff, our volunteers, my fellow caucus members, my family and my community, led by the Prime Minister, this is what I am a part of. It is what drew me to the union movement, it's what drew me to the Labor Party and it's what put me here in Parliament House.

I thank my parents, my sister, my aunts, my cousins Steve and Belinda, my daughters and my partner, Renee, for all their support in all aspects of my life and in helping me get here today. I hope I can honour the love that they have shown me and that they are proud as I do my bit for improving the lives of the people of Leichhardt and Australians everywhere.

Let me say it again. Australia's Far North is a place of unmatched beauty and potential, but potential without work is unrealised. Potential without work is wasted. I stand ready to work on behalf of the people who put me here. Let's do this. Thank you.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the honourable member for Bonner, I remind the House that this is the honourable member's first speech and I ask the House to extend to her the usual courtesies.

Ms KARA COOK (Bonner) (16:20): I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we gather and pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging. I also acknowledge the Turrbal, Yuggera and Quandamooka people, the traditional custodians of the land and waters of Bonner, and all First Nations people across our country, including those joining us today. As the proud mother of three First Nations children and the wife of a proud Waanyi and Kalkadoon man, I carry into this place a deep responsibility to listen, to advocate and to walk alongside First Nations people in truth and justice. This was and always will be Aboriginal land.

It is a great honour to stand in this place as the member for Bonner, particularly when my electorate was named after the very first Australian to become a member of this parliament, and acknowledge the importance of having a truly representative parliament. I am so proud to look around this chamber and see a rich and diverse representation of Australia today and, for the first time in history, women and men are equally represented in this place.

To the people of Bonner: thank you. Thank you for putting your trust in me, for opening your doors and sharing your stories over driveways, dinner tables and countless phone calls. I will always advocate for you, support you and serve our community every day with humility, compassion and kindness. To my predecessor, Ross Vasta: thank you to you and your family for your service over almost 20 years to our electorate.

I've had the privilege of listening to my colleagues' journeys to this place over the past week, and, like so many of them, my story is centred around family, community and service. I grew up in Yeppoon—not Yeppen!—on the central Queensland Capricorn Coast raised by hardworking parents, Denis and Christine, who are here today and who instilled in me the value of showing up for your mates, for your community and for people doing it tough. My dad managed the local sailing club. My mum was a TAFE teacher in early childhood education. They are the truest example of hardworking Australians who have done everything they could to ensure their kids had a quality education and every opportunity to pursue their dreams, even if that meant endless pineapple festival events and fundraising for the local Rotary in pursuit of the illustrious local pineapple queen crown—for me, not them—or, in more recent times, together with my twin brothers, Adam and Henry, donning Kara Cook shirts across multiple political campaigns over the past eight years. Thank you for your endless love and support. You all mean so much to me.

To my husband, Josh, who is also here today—he's a barrister, a champion of human rights and was the former chair of Queensland's Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry before it was axed by the Queensland LNP government last year. He's the one who backs me unconditionally, calls me 'the little engine that could' and keeps me grounded. Thank you, Josh, for supporting me and our family to pursue my dreams. Josh and I have walked this life together for over two decades now, from our university days and first jobs in the law to three beautiful children and, for me, not one, not two but three melanoma diagnoses before I turned 30. Through it all, I've learned this: our resilience is collective, and our strength is in community, friends and family.

To some of my very first and best girl friends, who have travelled here to be with me today: thank you. Breanna, Giselle, Liz and Jane, I appreciate your presence, love and support over so many years and through so many seasons of life. It truly does take a village, and you have been mine. My personal experiences with melanoma also taught me that our access in this country to quality healthcare, medical research, clinical trials and support organisations like Cancer Council Queensland can never be taken for granted. I'm so proud of Labor's record investment in and protection of Medicare—ensuring all Australians have access to quality and affordable health care when they need it.

To my children, Eden, Rita and Arlo: you are my compass. You remind me every day that we must do all we can to make a difference tomorrow. I'm so proud to be your mum. It's my most important job in the world. I know that this job will take me away from you and we won't have as much time together as I would like. But I do this job to make the future better not just for you but for all kids and particularly for those who might not have the same opportunities as you will in this life. I love you with all my heart.

To my local Labor Party branch members and volunteers in Bonner and also those from a little further afar, including my good friend Kerry; my campaign team; and, in particular, Sarah and Riley, who are also here today, together with former and current Queensland Labor state secretaries Kate Flanders and Ben Driscoll: thank you. I have been so proud to stand with you and campaign side by side. Together we had thousands of one-on-one conversations on the doors, on the phones and across prepoll and election day. Your dedication to the Labor Party and to me personally has meant so much.

To my union, the Services Union, and particularly their leadership, Neil Henderson and Jenny Thomas: thank you for being such an enormous support to me over many years and for actively encouraging me to be part of the collective action that is the union movement. I am so proud of the advocacy of the Services Union on many issues but particularly in relation to domestic violence and campaigning for 10 days of paid domestic violence leave that was delivered by this Labor government in the last term. I'll never forget standing in front of Queensland parliament at a Red Rose Foundation rally following the murders of women in Queensland and looking up to see the Services Union proudly marching down George Street to join us. We are truly stronger together. I also want to thank the United Workers Union, Transport Workers Union, Together and EMILY's List—including my mentor through EMILY's list, Claire Moore—for their support during the campaign.

To my Queensland Labor parliamentarians who joined me on the trail—Joan Pease, Di Farmer, Corrine McMillan, Joe Kelly, Shannon Fentiman, Steven Miles, Cameron Dick, Councillor Lucy Collier, Councillor Emily Kim and the now senator Corrine Mulholland—I look forward to working together every day for the betterment of our community. Thank you for your mentoring and support over many years. To our prime minister, Anthony Albanese: thank you for placing your faith in me. You believed we could win this seat when few others did, and your visit to my electorate made the world of difference not just to me and my community but to the Labor faithful, who had dreamed of winning Bonner back for almost 20 years. We did it together.

I also want to thank all of the federal ministers who took the time to join me on the campaign, the Hon. Jim Chalmers, Richard Marles, Tanya Plibersek, Anika Wells, Chris Bowen, Senator Penny Wong and Senator Murray Watt. Thank you for your support. I won't forget your generosity of time and advice both during the campaign and also following my election.

I want to share the story of a woman who I met doorknocking during the campaign. She was retired and during our conversation disclosed that she had been in a domestic violence relationship for over 30 years. It was only in the last few years that she was free of that violence and now lived as a carer for her adult son, who had significant mental health concerns that prevented him from working. She had challenges. She had always voted for the Liberal Party. She told me that a significant barrier to her leaving the violence was access to somewhere safe to go. I was able to tell her that Labor was building transitional domestic violence housing for women just a few suburbs over. She told me one of the ongoing challenges she faced was health care for herself and her son, which sometimes required care outside normal hours. I was able to tell her Labor would be building a new Medicare urgent care clinic just down the road and expanding mental health clinics so she could access health care for herself and her son when they needed it, for free.

When she asked about my background, I told her I was a former domestic violence lawyer and had helped women just like her safely leave relationships. She cried. She cried on my shoulder and told me she would be voting Labor for the very first time in her life. I have put my hand up for this job to help people like her. Before this place I was a lawyer. I have spent my professional working life advocating for vulnerable people in our community, including women escaping domestic violence. I founded the very first expert domestic violence law firm in Australia because no woman fleeing violence should be navigating the legal system alone. I have worked and volunteered in the community legal sector as the principal lawyer at Women's Legal Service Queensland and, most recently, as the CEO of Basic Rights Queensland. These free legal services advocate for women's rights, workers' rights and some of the most vulnerable Queenslanders, including those who have experienced domestic violence, workplace discrimination and disability discrimination.

I also served as a Brisbane city councillor on the largest council in Australia, with a budget of over $4 billion, where roads, rates and rubbish were core business but I also managed to fight for the big picture—for the first domestic violence strategy for the City of Brisbane and for the right for those who couldn't physically appear in the chamber to be heard remotely—and created a strong local community where inclusion and diversity were celebrated, not torn down with hate and division.

These roles taught me that politics isn't about ego or headlines. It's about impact, it's about community and it's about staying true to your authentic self and values, which for me means ensuring you work hard every single day to make a genuine difference in the lives of the communities we serve and that we stand up and we speak out when we see injustice and marginalisation.

Bonner is one of the most beautiful, diverse and community minded electorates in the country. From the waters of Wynnum and Manly to the leafy streets of Carindale and Mount Gravatt, from Rochedale to Chandler and Belmont to Wakerley, Bonner is a place where people pitch in at the local footy club, the P&C, the men's sheds—I have multiple sheds—and Meals on Wheels. It's home to nurses, teachers, tradies, small business owners and young families trying to build a future. It's also home to older Australians who have seen this country change and new migrants who are helping shape its future. It's also home to struggle, to people working two or three jobs just to get by, to renters who fear a rent hike will push them into homelessness, to parents waiting for mental health support for their kids and to women and children who still face violence behind closed doors. My job here is to make sure those voices are heard. My job is to ensure that the marginalised and voiceless are not forgotten or ignored.

I am a proud member of the Labor Party because I believe in a country where no-one is left behind; where your postcode doesn't determine your prospects; where women and children are safe in their homes; where workers have rights and families have time to care for one another and are supported with quality and safe early childhood education; where First Nations justice is not symbolic but systemic; where truth-telling is championed in every corner of the country, including here in our nation's capital, as a pathway towards reconciliation; and where everyone has a safe place to call home. We are a wealthy country. We need to ensure our most vulnerable are housed and well supported by wraparound services.

I will always fight for more access to bulk-billing and Medicare urgent care clinics, more mental health support, support for domestic violence organisations and access to justice for all. I want to see an Australia where women and children live free from violence, with systems that support, not retraumatise, survivors. I have sat in court with 90 domestic violence matters a day. I have seen firsthand the impact of that violence on generations. Generational trauma requires extensive and ongoing support. There are no quick fixes.

I will always push for policies that ease the pressure on families like cheaper child care, energy bill relief and for people to earn more and keep more of what they earn. I believe in a country honest about its past and united in its future. I will walk with First Nations people towards truth and healing.

I didn't come here to play politics. I came here because I believe in the quiet power of local action and the loud power of collective purpose. When I walk through the schools in Bonner, when I sit with women at our local community legal centre or domestic violence support services or when I speak to our local multicultural groups about their hopes for their kids, it reminds me that people haven't given up, that they want politics to be better—less performance and more purpose, less shouting and more solutions. To the people of Bonner, I will be your strong, present and passionate voice. I will fight for fairness, I will show up, and I will never ever take your trust for granted. Let's get to work together.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the honourable member for Petrie, I remind the House that this is the honourable member's first speech, and I ask the House to extend her the usual courtesies.

Ms COMER (Petrie) (16:39): I stand in this room with a great sense of awe. I stand in this room because of the aspirational and innovative work that has come from this house. I am inspired by the work of those who have come before me, including many sitting around me today. The work on Medicare, marriage equality, antidiscrimination, workers' rights, renewable energy and its storage, and the continued efforts to safeguard and improve upon these areas.

I stand on the land of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people and, standing here, I represent the electorate of Petrie, a region that has been called home by the Gubbi Gubbi and Turrbal people for millennia. I want to acknowledge these groups for their ancestral connection to the place where we meet today and to the land which I call home.

I also stand in this room because of the neglectful, shortsighted and undignified laws, ideas and examples that have come from this house, from the banning of RU-486 to the historical and ongoing injustices faced by Indigenous Australians. This house at times has caused harm to Australians and to my community. I'm so glad to be a part of this government, one that aims to right those wrongs and will stand up for all, not just the few.

The good, the bad, the ugly is why I'm here today.

My early childhood was tainted by violence and shrouded with fear. The man designated the protector of my family was the most dangerous part of my life. To live in that space day in and day out, never sure what would turn a bad day into an even worse day is a feeling that no-one should experience. Just before my ninth birthday, my family and I were able to find a way to squeeze ourselves out of the gap in the system in which we fell. And though we were safe away from that danger, the healing process itself was turbulent and non-linear.

One positive outcome from my childhood has been my fierce sense of justice, which I've had since as early as I can remember. While I will never say that I am grateful for the experiences I had as a child, I'm glad for the mindset I developed.

Now much to my mum's and probably my teachers' frustration at times, I always asked 'Why?' I question everything and everyone. I still remember the day when I was 11 and my mum said to me, 'Em, just because I'm your mum doesn't mean I know all the answers.' I was shocked to say the least!

During my teenage years I grappled with depression, but I found my peace and strength in serving others. I developed friendships across diverse groups of people, finding commonality where others would only see difference.

My mum is to blame for many of my values. She worked multiple jobs due to inconsistent hours while studying nursing full time, first at TAFE and then at uni. She did all of this while raising four kids on her own. When work is inconsistent and you have to work multiple jobs just to make ends meet, kids and families miss out on time spent together. I watched my mum wear many hats, and everything she did for us kids she did with love, but it meant she wasn't there for the important moments of my life, something she and I are both worse off for. That is why I'm so proud of our government's paid placements for nursing students at TAFE and university. This will change lives. I know it would have changed my life and that of my mum.

Through this I learned the value of secure employment, fair wages, the power of education and the importance of continuous learning, and that everyone should have the right to a fair go no matter their background. I learned that if I have the passion and give it my focus, nothing can stop me from achieving my goals.

I also want to take this moment to say I'm so proud of the work of the Redcliffe Area Youth Space. Amy Mayes and the team help young people who have been given a rough start in life. I can relate to those young people. My upbringing parallels some of their stories. To those young people: I see you and I want to assure you that things will get better.

I was a bit rambunctious in my early high school days, so much so that at one point in my late teens I decided I needed more discipline. This coincided with my belief that we should all serve a purpose bigger than ourselves. I channelled this into being elected school captain, to develop my leadership skills so that I could enlist at the age of 18 in the Australian Army and attend the Royal Military College, Duntroon. My time in the service taught me many things, such as endurance—that I can always put one foot in front of the other—and the power of trust in teamwork. Unfortunately, I had to leave the Army early, after a year, due to an injury that meant I could no longer complete my training. I was fortunate in my late teens to know what I wanted to do after finishing school. I had direction and I had purpose when most of my friends were struggling to find their purpose. After leaving the Army, I was at a loss. I'd put so much energy into getting there that I was unsure of what was next.

Being part of a team, working towards something positive and using my time to help others has always been important, so I found a new way to channel it and I started volunteering at the local sea-rescue radio tower. I still wasn't sure what career I wanted, so I did what most people in their early 20s do and I started working in hospitality. I was young, injured and broke, but I was gaining invaluable life experience. I learnt the feeling of living to work, with nothing left after the first round of bills, dreading unexpected car expenses and rent rises.

I'm not alone in feeling that there must be more to life than living to work. Life should be about working to live. Life should be about the ability to enjoy the world around us, building and developing connections and relationships and doing what you can to ensure others, all others, have access to the same privileges that the lottery of birth provides—that we lower the heights of the hurdles we got over to make them more accessible to those who come after us. New challenges will always arise, and it is our duty to ensure that we lower the heights of these hurdles for the next generation.

Now, we often define ourselves by considering who we are not, but this way of thinking leads to division, to disunity and to apathy towards others. The 'othering' of cultures may be disguised as patriotism, but really it is nationalism. I am a patriot. I love my country that has provided me so much in my life: my world-class education; free and affordable health care; beautiful and inspiring natural spaces where I'm free to explore, reflect and enjoy; and the opportunity to represent my community here in this room. I prefer to define myself by my attitudes, by my beliefs and by the way in which I engage with the world around me. I am a sister, an aunty, a partner, a friend, a neighbour, an adventurer, an environmentalist, a lover, a fighter, a fierce supporter of social equity, a confidante, a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen, a voice for the marginalised, a platform for those less privileged and a member of my community.

I have been fortunate to be able to travel to various parts of the world, experiencing vastly different cultures, from South Asia to eastern and western Europe, and in our own beautiful backyard here in Australia. One thing I've come to understand is that, no matter where you come from—whether rich or poor, literate or illiterate, regardless of gender, ethnicity and heritage—we all have similar hopes, dreams, fears and desires. We hope that our families live a safe and healthy life. We dream that our kids, our nieces and our nephews have more opportunities than us. We fear letting down the people around us, and we desire support and camaraderie from our communities. By focusing on our differences, we exclude all that could bring us together, whereas the list of the things we have in common will always be far greater. This common ground is where growth, partnership and progress happen.

I was in London at the time of the 2019 bushfires. People would hear my accent and often bring up the catastrophic impact of the fires, and I was floored by the inaction of the Australian government at that time. I decided that, as I was in that region, I would take myself to Iceland, the land of fire and ice, to see a glacier. With the previous government's business-as-usual approach to emissions reduction and climate action, I was sure those glaciers would melt in my lifetime.

I hired a four-wheel drive, and in the cold of winter I made my way to the glacier. I stood in awe at one of the most impressive and beautiful natural sites I've been fortunate enough to experience, and I became quite emotional. Standing there, considering the ramifications of our actions as humans on this planet and how those actions may mean the next generation may not get the chance to see what I was seeing, I filled my bottle with glacier water and I guzzled it down, and in that moment I decided to commit myself to being an active participant in positive change making. It was my glacial moment. Climate change is the driver for a lot of our issues, such as heatwaves killing more people than all other natural disasters combined and the damage of heat, flooding and coastal storm surges to our roads and railways. I recall seeing images of Melbourne train tracks warping in a heatwave and of bitumen roads melting, which is also impacting our remote regions. Heat also increases violent crime rates, making our communities less safe and police work harder, and places greater strain on our justice system. Drought, increased ferocity of storms, flooding and heat are damaging our crops, leading to increased prices and further exacerbating hardships on our farmers. The ferocity and frequency of storms in my electorate are damaging property and increasing the price of insurance. We must address this. However, we need a pragmatic approach. As they say, high tides raise all ships. The tides are rising, so let's ensure that everyone is lifted during this moment in our history.

Here I stand representing the residents of Petrie. My story is much like Petrie's. Petrie has its rough edges and polished gems. There are people living it tough and those who are comfortable. There is aspiration and there is desperation. There are some of the highest rates of domestic violence but there are also some of the highest rates of volunteerism. Just like my community, I carry those parts within me. My life experiences have been diverse, and the outcome of that is strength, resilience and compassion—just like when a community is socially, environmentally and economically diverse, it is stronger, more resilient and more compassionate. In recognising the diversity in our individuality we can come to understand how important it is that our communities reflect that.

Petrie is where seaside retirees meet first home buyers, where heritage buildings harmonise with 21st-century development. It is a region that has kept calling me back. I first moved there as a teenager, living on Dolhes Rocks Road, an incredible area surrounded by nature and friendly neighbours. I moved away when I joined the Army, but I kept finding myself coming back. I love where I live, kayaking around the peninsula or up the Pine River near Griffin and chucking a line in. It turns out I am not the best hunter of fish, but I am a well-versed gatherer of fish, namely at Morgans Seafood in Scarborough.

There is a unique sense of humour in the stoicism found in Petrie, which was evident during Cyclone Alfred preparations. During the cyclone preparations, residents such as Jess in Redcliffe were calling out for help on community social media groups on behalf of her elderly neighbour who was recovering from a recent surgery. I decided to head out to this woman's house to lend a hand, and what touched my heart was the near dozen of us who rocked up to secure this yard. I also spent a few hours down at the sandbagging station and I was not alone in this endeavour. Dozens of residents were down there making up bags and carrying them to awaiting cars. All of this was done with big smiles and plenty of laughs. The spirit of the Petrie community was alive and well. We came together to help one another in a stressful time.

Sport also plays a major role in our community. It is a place to come together, to share, to laugh, to celebrate and to commiserate. Petrie is home to some of the largest community football and netball clubs in Queensland and one of the oldest croquet clubs in the state. Importantly, Petrie is home to the best NRL team in the country. The Dolphins are a major part of my community, a community of Phinatics. 'Phins up' to those joining me in the gallery and those watching at home. Two of our players made up part of the Queensland Maroons, who recently decimated the Blues and wiped the smile off many members in this room. To those members I say, 'Hammer time,' and may our victory be the beginning of another eight-year sweep.

It is said that yesterday's solutions are today's problems, but I am an optimist. I'm here to be part of long-lasting, positive change. To the residents of Petrie that voted for me: I thank you for your trust. I want to acknowledge the honour you have bestowed upon me in representing you. For those that did not vote for me, I'm looking forward to hearing your concerns, learning what is important to you, working on solutions and continuing to earn your respect. I want to acknowledge my predecessor Mr Luke Howarth for his servitude to Petrie residents and to thank him for the 12 years he gave this House.

I want to acknowledge the Hon. Yvette D'Ath, the former member for Petrie and the former state member for Redcliffe, who joins me here today. Yvette's excitement for my campaign and words of encouragement kept morale high, and her continued sage advice, even after I'd asked my 500th question, kept me focused. Her tenacity, conviction and compassion are the qualities that a great local member should emulate.

To the branch members across Petrie: you were the engine room of this campaign. Our campaign was grassroots. We didn't have a lot of money, but we had a lot of heart. You were the boots on the ground and the best team I could have hoped for—a collective of true believers of our Labor values and of me. You all heard me say that battles are won on momentum and morale. Our momentum never wavered and our morale was high, because we had a mandate and a belief in a better future for our community. I'm happy that some of you could make it today, and I thank you for your continued support.

I want to thank my local Labor state members and councillors for their support. I also want to thank the ALP national president, the Hon. Wayne Swan, for his support and mentorship. I also want to thank Kate Flanders, Ben Driscoll, Luke Richmond and Meredith Newman from Queensland Labor. You helped me get here.

To my campaign team: you delivered above and beyond what I could have dreamed of. You all jumped on board, even when some people said it was an unwinnable seat. I'll single out two members of my team: Alex Wetzel and Eric Yun. You guys brought the gen Z touch to my social media in a way I could never understand.

I also want to thank Senator Corinne Mulholland. Corinne helped pave the way for me, and I congratulate her on being elected to the Senate. I want to thank Senator Anthony Chisholm for his consistent and enthusiastic support from the day we met. He has been my champion, pushing me to pursue my interests and to do more for my community. I want to thank Rob Skelton for giving me my first shot in politics. I also want to thank my incredible office team: Avalon, Emily, Alex, Aryan, Archer and Stella. I am the face of the operation, and you are all the operation.

I want to thank the union movement, the backbone of our country's progress, particularly the Australian Workers' Union. To Stacey Schinnerl and Joey Kaiser: I am constantly in awe of your fierce devotion to the rights of working Australians to live decent and secure lives. I thank you not only for what you've done for me but what you do to stand up for workers every day. I want to thank our prime minister for his support right from the start. He is unwavering in his values and is a leader I'm proud to follow. The Prime Minister set a very clear and progressive agenda throughout the campaign and throughout the previous term. He was one of the few that believed in a majority government, and that faith carried through. I want to single out two members of this chamber—the Prime Minister and Minister Plibersek—for their continuous support and allyship to people like me, advocating for my rights as an individual since before we'd even met.

I want to thank my professors, Traci Sudana, Stefanie Fishel and Shannon Brincat, for their support and guidance in shaping my vision.

I want to thank the member for Dobell for joining me on the campaign. As you would know, there's always another Emma in the room, and I'm glad to be that for you.

I thank my family who join me here today. My brother Aaron even prepared some lines for this speech. So that he can't say I never listen, I'll share one of his lines to be forever cemented in the Hansard: 'I might ruffle a few feathers in this room, but I hear feather boas are back in style.' I also want to thank my incredible partner, who joins me here. Whilst I am a volunteer, she is a conscript. I bet you didn't think we would be here when we met in a bar some years ago. This place can swell one's head, but her piercing wit will always keep me grounded. You are my golden hour. Your light brings out the best sides of me and softens the rest. Your unwavering support has made all of the difference. I could not have done this without you, my love.

Looking around me, I see a room that represents our nation. I never grew up thinking I would have a place here. When I was younger, I thought: 'Well, I'm not wealthy. My family don't own a home.' But, over the course of a couple of decades, a new style of political leadership was becoming more apparent to me—one of compassion, representative leadership and working together. I learnt that someone of my background, upbringing and net worth is exactly the kind of representative we need—a person with lived and shared experience; not just empathy but understanding.

When I was in the Army I read The Art of War, by Sun Tzu, and remember learning that to divide is to conquer. The book paints a very clear picture of why some seek division, vilifying anything different, new or old—anything other than themselves. Diversity, however, is strength. Without diversity in our gut bacteria we become unwell. Without the diversity in our environment we see increases in disease and loss of species richness. Without diversity in our workplace we see businesses struggle to remain viable and competitive. Without diversity in our trade we see economic decline. Without diversity in our parliament we see policies leaving people behind. Without diversity we are weak in ideas and less resilient to change. Change is inevitable, and we must be ready to adapt and move forward.

I'm so proud to be part of this government that is rich with diversity. Our government is representative of our modern Australia. The Art of War also taught me that those who occupy the high ground will fight to advantage. In politics, high ground isn't literal; it's moral—and it matters. For my party, the great Australian Labor Party, the moral high ground is not a tactic; it is who we are. From Medicare to minimum wages, from universal super to climate action, we've taken positions that were not always easy or popular. We've stood up for workers, for fairness, for reconciliation and for the future. The moral high ground gives us the clearest view of what we stand for and who we're fighting for. It gives us the conviction to persevere and the integrity to govern. It is not the easy path. It is the Labor path. It is the Australian path. And as long as we stay on it we will not only win the battle of ideas; we will earn the trust of the people we serve.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the honourable member for Calwell, I remind the House that this is the honourable member's first speech, and I ask the House to extend to him the usual courtesies.