Bridget Archer (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I would also like to add my congratulations to the newly elected member for Lingiari and congratulate her on that very fine first speech.

It's a privilege to be standing here myself with the opportunity to give an address-in-reply speech as a second term member for Bass. To have retained the seat known as the 'ejector seat of Australia' is a tremendous honour, and I thank the people of northern Tasmania for putting their faith in me to represent them for another term.

When I stood here as the new member for Bass in 2019 giving my first speech I committed to doing my utmost to repay the trust the community had put in me. I took that commitment incredibly seriously and never wavered in ensuring that I put the community first in every decision I made.

To be standing here today as the first re-elected member for Bass in more than 20 years and the first re-elected Liberal member for the electorate in more than 30 years is, I hope, a reflection in part of my promise to put the community over politics, a pledge that I will take through this term as well.

Of course, you will never please everyone all the time and in today's social media era the feedback can come in thick and fast. But I stand by the decisions that I made in the 46th Parliament, even if at times they came at a personal cost. I have learned that you are absolutely setting yourself up for failure if you try to be all things to all people. It's simply not possible and it's not what leadership looks like.

As elected representatives we should challenge ourselves to have the courage to make difficult decisions, or support difficult decisions, because it's the right thing to do and not look for the answer that is popular, politically expedient or easy.

As a nation, we are fed up with the tribal politics and political dog whistling that has permeated our politics here and overseas for the past few years, and I think that's reflected in the election result. Our communities demand more.

The Albanese government has said that they are committed to a new era of leadership with collaboration at the centre, and I sincerely hope that they will uphold this promise to the Australian people. Trust in politics and elected representatives is an increasing challenge for governments globally. I'm sure we've all heard commentary from constituents in our own communities who feel disengaged from the political process due to their feelings that all politicians are the same and that by the very nature of our job we can't be trusted. This sentiment is not new of course, but one that I feel has grown over the past few years and one which saddens me. We must look to ways to rebuild the confidence of the Australian people in their political institutions.

The establishment of a federal Integrity Commission is a good place to start. A robust commission is one that I've strongly advocated for since being elected and will send a strong message to the public that all politicians can and should be held accountable. Having worked closely with the member for Indi over the past term and consulted extensively with key stakeholders on what a proposed Integrity Commission should look like, I support the member for Indi's model and reiterate my view that the commission should function to positively promote integrity.

However, no matter the final model that is legislated this year, as Labor has promised, it has to be a true multipartisan effort. It can't be my way or the highway. The government should be looking to establish a commission that gives the Australian people no reason not to trust it.

I will also be watching with interest how the Labor government approaches the dismantling of the cashless welfare card. As I said in November 2020, when I abstained from my own party's policy legislation on making trial sites permanent, I abhor the very idea of a government program that inflicts further stigma on individuals who may already feel other or less than due to their circumstances. But, as I made clear in my speech at that time, there's a bigger challenge that lies ahead in ensuring a proper transition is in place when looking to end the program. This was the very basis of my decision to abstain from voting at the time and it's one that I stand by today. I'll be closely reviewing Labor's legislation on how they plan to support communities and how they propose to invest in long-term solutions that create sustainable and meaningful change. I feel a deep sense of responsibility to ensure that we don't just walk away after forcing more than a decade of financial control on communities who have endured these trials.

I also believe that far more work needs to be undertaken to understand and implement trauma informed responses across agencies and institutions to make some headway in achieving better outcomes for those that we're seeking to help. We should be looking to embed trauma awareness and trauma informed responses in government services across health, education, and social security systems, amongst others. It's my enduring view that trauma lies at the heart of many of the challenges Australians face, and it will only be when we recognise and respond to this that we will turn the tide, stop retraumatising people and see results.

It all comes back to communities. As parliamentarians, we should always aim for outcomes that will lift up our communities and the diverse individuals who live within our electorates, not impose limitations that will see them struggle. We often say what an immense privilege it is to be in this House, but we reflect less often on the immense responsibility to ensure that we exercise that privilege to ensure a greater future for those we represent. I will continue to remind myself of that throughout this term to deliver the best outcomes for the Northern Tasmanian community, of which I'm so proud. The first time I stood in this place, I said:

Marginal seats speak for the nation and ensure elected members aren't complacent or take their communities for granted.

If the recent election has shown us anything, it is that there is no such thing as a safe seat anymore, which I believe is a good thing for our democracy and for those who elect us to represent them.

From the time I joined local government in 2009 to being elected to the federal parliament in 2019, I've made a conscious choice to listen far more than I talk. And the best way to listen to people's stories is to go and meet them where they are, in the communities where they live. And so, since being elected, I've spent time in all corners of Northern Tasmania—suburbs and towns from Ravenswood to Riverside, Beauty Point to Beaconsfield, George Town to Gladstone, Scottsdale to Summerhill and everywhere in between—to sincerely listen to the challenges, needs, wants and desires of individuals and community organisations. Only by stopping to hear what is said to us, good and bad, can we fight for and deliver what is truly needed, and I never shy away from a difficult conversation.

In my first speech, I talked about wanting to do more to address the issues of family violence, the treatment of women in our society, and the abuse and neglect of children. The spotlight on these issues in the past three years has painfully highlighted that, while much work has been done to try and address these issues, there is still much more work to be done and such a long road ahead. This was borne out in the recommendations from the inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence in the last term of parliament, and I was pleased to participate in that. With some 90 hours of evidence given to the inquiry, including from women in my own community, there has been some effective change put in place, including a much-needed funding injection into specialised women's legal services, recognising the barriers so many women face when trying to leave a violent relationship. After working closely with frontline women's services, including Women's Legal Service Tasmania, I know how necessary increased funding is to meet the ever-rising demand for services. After more than a decade of advocacy from the legal community for a safer Family Court in Launceston, I fought for and secured the necessary funds to move the court and create a safer environment for all those who come through its doors. I note that it should be in its new location by the end of this year.

While I'm standing here today, I feel it's important for me also to acknowledge the victims-survivors affected by the current commission of inquiry into the Tasmanian government's responses to child sexual abuse in institutional settings. I commend the government for its action in setting up this inquiry, but I sincerely hope that victims-survivors who have come forward will have their voices heard and we will see necessary changes implemented. I'm determined to do what I can to keep these issues at the forefront of the national conversation, because it's clear to me that this type of abuse will continue until we see it as a systemic cultural issue. This will take sustained action for many years to come, but I'm unwavering in my commitment to use my role in this place to seek meaningful change and to elevate the voices of victims-survivors.

As was also reflected in my first speech, health remains a priority and one of the major concerns raised with me in my community, with both access and affordability to primary healthcare services as one of the biggest issues. The challenges are numerous and complex, and there is no silver bullet that will fix these challenges instantly. It would be fanciful to say otherwise. What it will take is a continued collaboration between state and federal governments, combined with significant engagement with health professionals on the front lines, to bring about the necessary changes. I'm proud to have fought for and delivered our region's first ever free walk-in adult mental health hub, which is already filling a gap for adult mental health services in our region. I'm optimistic that the $2 million in additional funding I secured to assist general practitioners in recruitment and retention of doctors will have some impact.

I'm incredibly proud of ongoing work with community stakeholders, health professionals and the state government over the past three years which led to three major commitments being made during the recent election. These were then recognised for their merit and matched by Labor. The first of these commitments will see the establishment of northern Tasmania's first dedicated medical research and innovation centre as part of the Clifford Craig Foundation. The investment of $4 million will deliver tangible results by securing the future of this iconic foundation and supporting its work in solving complex health puzzles that will have long-term health impacts for generations to come. The centre will be located at the Launceston General Hospital, right near where thousands of cancer patients enter the WP Holman Clinic for treatment each year. Since my election in 2019, I've had the pleasure of meeting and working with its team of passionate clinicians, who, under the care of its director, Dr Stan Gauden, were finalising plans on a new post-cancer survivorship care program. There was an understanding that there was a gap in supporting patients and their families after treatment had stopped. I was determined to see their pilot program come to fruition, and was incredibly pleased to secure over $580,000 as an election commitment to see this program implemented.

Lastly, but certainly not least, I was able to announce $20 million in funding for the establishment of a standalone palliative care facility—one that supporters have been advocating to establish for more than 15 years. While Labor announced $5 million for the facility, it was my work and consultation with the state government which identified that the cost would exceed that amount, and I was able to secure a written commitment from the state to undertake the clinical services which ensured the facility can and will meet the needs of the community. All three of these commitments will make a demonstrable difference to the health, quality of life and end-of-life care for our community, and will speak to the importance of turning up, listening and doing the necessary work to deliver what is required. I'm sincerely happy that Labor has acknowledged that by matching these commitments, and I will be working to ensure that those promises are delivered.

Though I could talk for much longer on the issue of health, I did want to wrap up my focus on this area by thanking the health professionals in my region. They are doctors, nurses, pharmacists, admin staff and cleaning staff, amongst others, who have worked tirelessly to keep our community safe over the past few years. I know it has been, and continues to be, physically, emotionally and mentally exhausting for so many of you, and I want to say a special thank you. You were asked to step up when so much was unknown, at a time of fear an uncertainty. You may not feel it day in and day out, but there is a whole community behind you that is incredibly grateful for your professionalism and care.

Our community of Bass has consistently reflected to me their desire for stronger action on climate change, and I will be reviewing Labor's legislation in more detail before making a decision. I will say this: my view is that we need to stop arguing about the ideology and take a pragmatic approach. I've received commentary by some who view the issue of climate action as 'too left'. However, caring for the environment is intrinsic to Liberal Party values. In fact, in our own statement of beliefs, we say, 'We believe … In preserving Australia's natural beauty and the environment for future generations.' And that's simply what I seek to do.

Like communities across the nation and the world, northern Tasmania has been through so much over the past few years. We have some immense challenges ahead. To my community I say: I will continue to be with you each step of the way, doing my best to represent you in this place. Thank you once again for putting your trust in me. But whether you voted for me or not, I strive to represent our entire community. Your views, needs and aspirations matter to me, and I want to hear them from you. We won't agree on all things, but I will always act with authenticity and integrity.

Finally, I'd like to acknowledge the enormous sacrifice that my family—my husband, Winston, and my five children, Luke, Lauren, Edith, Molly and James—continue to make so that I can do this work. When I stood here three years ago I didn't truly understand just how deep I would have to dig to be both mum and the local federal member. And I know I don't always get it right. But I hope that they know I love them tremendously and that they will be proud of the contribution I make.

When the Speaker was elected to the position yesterday he asked that members commit to better conduct in the House to ensure a better standard of politics, and it's a request that I wholeheartedly agree to uphold. Thank you.

See this speech in context