Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

When I was speaking in this debate in December, I was reflecting on the contributions and speeches of the new members of the parliamentary Labor Party after the 2022 election, so I resume by welcoming the new member for Spence, Matt Burnell, to the parliament. He grew up with a community way of life. From working on his parents' farm to enlisting in the Army reserves, he has always put his community first.

During his first speech, the member spoke about the importance of First Nations voices being heard. Implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart is about voice, treaty and truth. The referendum is a step towards healing the wounds that have been open too long, and I know the member for Spence will be very active in this campaign.

In New South Wales we welcomed the new member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes. The new member has made it her mission to ensure the concerns of locals are heard in Canberra. I know she will be a strong voice in her community on issues such as the gender pay gap, supporting the NDIS and backing in industry in her electorate to meet the challenges of net zero emissions by 2050.

The new member for Parramatta is here in the chamber this morning. Andrew Charlton is an exceptional voice in parliament for his electorate of Parramatta. He is an example of the high calibre of MPs now representing Labor in this place. He is an incredibly strong and articulate voice for the people of Parramatta. As he pointed out in his first speech in this place, if New South Wales businesses are not in Parramatta, they are missing out on the future of Sydney. He reminded us that good economic policy is fundamentally about people, and I couldn't agree more.

The new member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi, is an Australian sporting champion. He represented the green and gold five times in the Olympics and is a three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist in sports shooting. I know he recently had a crack at running the 100 metres on one of his Instagram posts, but I don't think he's going to represent us in that sport. Whilst juggling shooting commitments, the member has worked as a coalminer and most recently as a manager for a medium-sized machinery sales business that services the mining and agricultural sectors. He knows what it means to represent his country on the national stage, and he is fighting for the people of Hunter in this parliament. As the member noted in his first speech, he is a proud former coalminer and he is proud of his electorate's mining history, as we all should be.

I would also like to welcome the member for Bennelong, Jerome Laxale. The member has delivered for the local community on Ryde council since 2012, including five years as mayor. He sought election because he wants this place to be the home of good government. He has a remarkable background. His father is from Mauritius and his mother is from Reunion. He spoke about the sega dance he witnessed at parties as a young child. I've since found out this dance is a little bit risque, so whilst I might have asked for a rendition, I'll leave that for another time. I welcome the member for Bennelong to this chamber.

In Reid we have a very special story. The new member for Reid is the daughter of hardworking Chinese parents who fled Laos after the Vietnam War. She is a passionate advocate for the freedom and opportunities that allowed her family to prosper in Australia. The member understands that with hard work and access to a good education, everyone can build the future they want for their family.

Also in New South Wales I welcome the representative for Robertson, Gordon Reid, to this place. A proud Wiradjuri man from Darkinjung country, the member was on the frontlines during the COVID pandemic, working as an emergency doctor at local hospitals. These same hospitals were the catalysts for the member to run for parliament and represent the people of Robertson. As the son of small-business owners, he understands the importance of small businesses to the community and the wider economy, and this is one of the many reasons I believe he is an outstanding representative for the electorate of Robertson.

In Victoria, I congratulate the member for Chisholm, Carina Garland. She understands the pressure faced by immigrants coming to Australia for a new and better life. Chisholm's namesake, Caroline Chisholm, was a fierce advocate for women's immigration and social justice, and I anticipate the new member will be equally effective in achieving these important goals.

As the first Labor member for Higgins, Michelle Ananda-Rajah is the first person of colour to represent that seat since its formation, and she sets an example to us all. Born to Sri Lankan parents in London and migrating to Australia early in her life, the member has an established medical career in infectious diseases, which meant that before her election she saw the highs and lows of the COVID pandemic on that frontline. She brings years of international medical experience to this place, to the people of Higgins and to the wider Australian community. She will undoubtedly make an enormous contribution to this parliament.

In the seat of Holt, the new member, Cassandra Fernando, has seen history made, being the first Sri Lankan-born member of the Australian parliament elected to this place. As a migrant and a person of colour, the member for Holt understands what it's like to feel underrepresented in all aspects of Australian life and the need for diverse voices in our country's chamber. She has worked in various retail sectors and has come to represent those same workers in their fight to improve pay, conditions and industry standards. Also a pastry chef, she will be an excellent representative for the people of Holt. I congratulate her on her election.

I'd like to welcome the member for the newly formed electorate of Hawke in Melbourne's inner west, Sam Rae. The member for Hawke has pledged his commitment to working with the Albanese government to address housing affordability and invest in local education and health care, important goals for the people of Hawke and, of course, for the whole nation. And congratulations to the member and his partner, Zoe, on the arrival last year of their baby, Mack.

I want to also pay tribute to the new member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour, who has lived and worked across the Territory her entire life. She served in the NT Legislative Assembly for 11 years and was the first First Nations Australian woman to be elected to the NT parliament. Her many years of experience representing her community will be invaluable to this place, and I am grateful for her assistance and engagement, particularly in my capacity as the Minister for Northern Australia.

I welcome Senator Linda White. Senator White has fought for the rights of the working class through her time at the Australian Services Union. As a senator for Victoria, Senator White will continue to fight hard for working Australians in this parliament. As she has made clear, getting justice for others has been her driving ambition, whether as a union delegate or as a lawyer.

Also in Victoria, I welcome and congratulate Senator Jana Stewart. Senator Stewart is a proud First Nations Australian of the Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba peoples. Through her career as a family therapist, working for the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and the Victorian Child Protection System, Senator Stewart has gained a deep understanding of the needs of Victorian communities. Her inspiring dedication to her community will make her a great senator and a great asset to this place.

I think the election result on 21 May in 2022 made clear that the people of Australia wanted change. They wanted secure local jobs. They voted for affordable child care. They voted for affordable housing. They wanted to see real action on climate change, and action is being taken. The people of Australia want reconciliation with and reconciliation of our First Nations people. We'll work across the community of this vast continent to ensure that First Nations peoples have a voice to this parliament, and we will implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart in its entirety. My colleagues and I in the Albanese government are working to build a better future where no-one is held back and no-one is left behind.

In my last remaining few minutes, I want to acknowledge and thank my team—it's substantially larger than it was on 20 May last year—and I do want to acknowledge the transition teams that came in from the various departments to help support members of the then opposition, which then transitioned into government. It says a lot about our democracy that we can have a change of government and the bureaucracy stands by it and makes sure that all new ministers, assistant ministers and everyone who has to take on new responsibility is ably supported by a good, thoughtful Public Service. I really want to thank all those teams in the Department of Industry, Science and Resources who helped me, and I'm sure other newer ministers feel the same way. I particularly want to thank my electorate office team. They have been brilliant, in our office in Rockingham, through the election and post the election. It's also a transition for them, of course, as I am a shadow minister going into a ministerial role. So I really thank you all for your ongoing commitment to the community. As we all know, electorate offices around this country really are at the front line of communities' engagement with each of the members of parliament. They sometimes have to put up with a lot of things we would hope they did not, yet they persevere, have great patience and help the community a great deal.

To my ministerial office team, thank you all for joining me, helping me into this new role, hanging around to keep the office going and providing all your good, honest and thoughtful advice. I am really deeply grateful for the time, effort and commitment that you put into your jobs, which make my job possible to undertake. I also want to acknowledge the importance of departmental liaison officers. I had a bit to deal with when I worked for the former member for Brand, and I'm sorry to say—if any of them are still paying attention!—I didn't quite understand their role. But now I really understand as a minister how vital the DLOs are, certainly in getting me ready for a number of things in the operation of government and liaison with the departments. So I want to thank you, the DLOs. I won't mention anyone by name, because now the teams are so much bigger than they were; I fear leaving names out. But thank you all. Thank you for your commitment since before the election, of course, and then since the election last year to helping being part of good government and being part of my team as the federal member for Brand and the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia.

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