Nola Marino (Forrest, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

I began my first speech in this parliament by thanking the people in my electorate of Forrest for the faith and confidence they showed in electing me to represent them in the federal parliament. In this, my valedictory speech, I thank them most sincerely for that faith and confidence over six elections. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve you—the people of Forrest—during these years, and I've been absolutely grateful for every single day I've had here.

Can I also thank my colleagues who are here in the chamber today? They are here in the same way that many of you supported my maiden speech 17 years ago as the 1,038th member of this House, out of only 1,244 in total now. I was part of the class of 2007, after the election where there were only seven Liberals—Rowan Ramsey, Luke Simpkins, Steve Irons, Scott Morrison, Alex Hawke, Stuart Robert and our one newly elected National Party member Mark Coulton. Even though the coalition lost that election, I can well remember the excitement we all shared. We have worked so well together; this speech is my opportunity to say thank you.

Firstly I thank those who have actively worked with me over the years to identify and help me secure what has actually been unprecedented federal investment in infrastructure projects and programs delivered into the south-west during my time as the member for Forrest. This includes the people in my electorate and my coalition colleagues during our nine years in government who understood and responded to the need for, and supported, this critical investment—investment that was so badly needed in what is one of the fastest-growing, most economically diverse dynamic and productive regional areas in Australia. With mining resource manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, construction, tourism and retail, the south-west is its own economic powerhouse. It's also a region where people increasingly choose to live, to work, to raise a family, to invest and to retire.

The federal government investment has been critical to sustaining and the development of the region. It is often basic infrastructure funding—roads, bridges, the life-saving mobile phone towers, airport freight at Busselton airport, aged care and local government infrastructure—that can be taken for granted in metro areas. Let me tell you that those of us who live in the regions respect and value every single taxpayer dollar that is spent in our communities. We know that this infrastructure is critical and saves lives. It took over six years of work and persistence for me to secure what is now a billion dollars, 80 per cent of the value of the project, of funding for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road—thank you to my colleagues—and the dualling of the carriageway from Capel to Busselton.

My focus, though, for project delivery has been on local procurement in our south-west. I thank the unsung heroes I've met and worked with and for—like our local police, who I believe are at increasing risk every single day they're out on the road. A special thank you to our emergency services volunteers, our transport sector and our amazing truck drivers who are on the road delivering day and night; in my opinion, Australia runs on the back of a truck. The unsung heroes are also our farmers, who, day in and day out, supply us with some of the highest-quality fresh, locally and regionally produced homegrown food—some of the best in the world in our south-west. Our farmers need far less red, green and any other form of tape you want to talk about and less interference from activist groups. As Michael Partridge, a local dairy farmer in my electorate, said: 'I feed 50,000 people every year. How about you just say thank you and let me get on with it.' As a dairy farmer, I agree.

Where water flows food grows, which is why our farmers need ongoing access to quality local irrigation and water supplies. Harvey Water, in my electorate, is a farmer owned cooperative supplying gravity fed irrigation water to its farmer members and fit-for-purpose water for industry through a series of pipes and channels. They are multi-award winning and great at their job, perhaps to the great frustration and disappointment of some who at the time didn't think our farmers were up for the job and openly said that Harvey Water would go broke and fail. Nearly 30 years on, Harvey Water and those very same farmers have proven them wrong. And, no, our farmers are not stupid; they are businesspeople in their own right.

I must thank our community services volunteers and sporting club members, who, in our regional parts of Australia, are often the glue that hold our small regional communities together. These are the people I've loved meeting with and listening to—hardworking, selfless Australians, our volunteers, the ones who stand up when our communities are most at risk or in need. They are also the people I have great respect for because of their direct involvement in their communities and our communities. They know best what is needed and what will work in their own communities. To me, along with our current Australian Defence Force members and veterans, our volunteers represent the best of us, which is in part why regional Australia matters and regional people have earned and deserve respect.

No-one should ever forget that it is regional Australia—its industries, its businesses and its people—that create the wealth that supports the basic services that Australians rely on every day. We should not be merely the dumping ground for endless kilometres of offshore wind and onshore wind, solar farms and transmission lines at the expense of prime food-producing land. We should also not be bearing the brunt of the closure of industries, such as live sheep or live cattle and our globally acknowledged best practice working hardwood forestry sectors. I wish every Australian could visit our south-west Wellington Discovery Forest to see how this most renewable, sustainable industry actually works. Being the member for Forrest, though, has given me the opportunity to provide the strong voice for these regional Australians.

I am so proud of those who live and work in the regions: the tradespeople, our tradies, who work in the businesses and industries that, as I said, create Australia's wealth—regions like the south-west of WA, where my history is and where I was brought up by my parents, both of whom died in 2000, before I entered the parliament. I know they would have been incredibly proud of my work; however, my mother would have been quietly worried sick at some of what I've had to deal with. By comparison, my dad was blunt in the extreme—it's where I get it from; apologies. He would have constantly reminded me, as he always did, since I was a kid—by your indulgence, Deputy Speaker, I would please insert a particular swear word here—to 'please just do the so-and-so job, will you?' That was Dad: 'Just do the so-and-so job. Get the job done.'

My dad was a pioneer of earthmoving and cartage in the south-west. He was the only person I've known to have a licence to cut wood out of Kings Park in World War II, to keep the Princess Margaret Children's Hospital operating with steam. My mother fundraised and worked tirelessly to provide our tiny little home town of Brunswick Junction with its first and second ambulance. This was Brunswick's first ever emergency medical service.

Now, when I was a kid our home phone was the ambulance phone. We had to be able to get an ambulance to the right place with the two drivers each time. Not only was she my mum and an ambulance volunteer but she also provided critical first aid in our house—knife through here, out there—and delivered a baby in the front seat of a car whenever needed. While Dad said to do the so-and-so job, Mum's instruction to us was, 'If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well.' I thank them both for their values, their hard work ethic and their lifetimes of volunteering and working for our community. They were great role models and by their actions gave me a hands-on apprenticeship in what's needed in a small community: get involved, help out, get the job done.

I often refer to my mother as the wind beneath my wings. And my father, who was a migrant, never forgot what he owed this great country for the opportunity it gave him—the opportunity to work hard, to save his money, to put a roof over his family's heads and to run his own small business. What a great country. Now, he was never going to be wealthy, but he was always going to enrich his own community.

My husband and I bought our first dairy farm on the day we got married. He said, 'Don't marry me for my money, because it's all printed in red,' and he was right. Interest rates went from 17 to 23 per cent and, yes, it was tough, but we built a small business. I became very involved in the dairy industry, including in voluntary marketing and promotion with our milk industry group and with the Australian Dairy Corporation. Farming, water and regional issues followed, and as a community volunteer I spent 10 years—it was a fabulous 10 years—as the president of my local AFL footy club.

I thank my husband, Charlie, who encouraged me to take on this role and who, as you will all understand, never made me feel guilty for not being home. I thank him for the many years he did everything he could to make my job easier.

I thank my family. My son, Kim; daughter-in-law, Deanna; and their family took on all the dairy farming jobs over the past 17 years. I make special mention of my three much-loved grandchildren, Dylan, Simon and Sophie, who've grown up with a nonna—if you're Italian or of Italian descent, you'll understand what 'nonna' means—who has missed many of their special birthdays and events but who are great kids who never complained. I thank them for fitting in with my schedule for our family tradition of Italian sausage-making and sauce-making days. Now, they were very patient when people would stop for a chat when they were out with me in public, and, using my grandson's own words, they doubled up as my 'bodyguards' at certain times. I also thank them for what they've had to put up with because we share the same surname.

To my precious daughter, Kylie, who is with us today, thank you for your love, support and strength, and for allowing me to tell the story of your very personal and dreadful endometriosis journey. This motivated me to work with my wonderful colleagues here to deliver the first-ever National Action Plan for Endometriosis, which brought ongoing investment and commitment for women suffering from this incurable lifetime disease. I spent 11 days in ICU with you, sweetheart. All I wanted was for you to live, and so far you have. I'm sorry your partner, Mark, is not here, but together you've catered for—and the Leader of the Opposition can vouch for this—so many dinners and functions at my home, along with our reliable and efficient offsider, Scott Chatley.

I thank my sister, Judy; my brother, Lindsay; and all my family and close friends who have been absolutely unwavering over these years in their love, support and patience. And I cannot forget my loyal Harvey Bulls Football Club crew. Jenni and Nirah Mattila—my dear friends, who live in Sydney—are here today. Every election they flew over to the South West to work on my toughest booths, because they were tough as well. Thank you both. I am so pleased you're here.

I thank the Liberal Party of Australia, and, in particular, our Forrest division branch members for their unwavering commitment and support, and for their practical help and support in manning booths. I also pay tribute to and remember past members who are no longer with us. I thank Dr Steve Thomas, who chaired each of my campaigns. Steve's straightforward, practical approach and advice was a major reason we won six elections, and we've done so much more together since.

A very sincere thanks to the late Senator Judith Adams. Judith showed me the ropes of doorknocking for half a day in Augusta and then said: 'You'll be right. Just get on with it.' Thank you to the colleagues who were there to mentor and support me in the early years: the wonderful Dr Mal Washer and Bronwyn Bishop. I learnt so much from them. They were tough. They were experienced. But they were generous MPs who were prepared to share their wisdom with me.

I thank my fiercely loyal and hardworking electorate office team. Vicki Rake started as my campaign secretary and went on to work with me for 12 years in many different roles, including as whip's clerk in our Chief Government Whip's office team, along with Nathan Winn, whose knowledge of the history and workings of the parliament were, and are, invaluable. Julie O'Sullivan was wonderfully calm and extremely efficient in her role during what was a seriously challenging 45th Parliament that began with a one-seat majority.

The whip's team of Bert van Manen, Rowan Ramsey and our National Party whips worked so well together during this time. Thank you all, and thank you to all of the colleagues who worked so well with me during this time. Thank you very much.

I give a very special acknowledgment to all of my WA colleagues—we all worked so hard to deliver a fairer GST arrangement for Western Australia—and to Kerry Dawson; Jamie Martin; Robyn Roney; Samantha O'Connor; Dylan Gorski, and his carers; and the Newton Moore Education Support Centre students, and their carers, who have done work experience in my office over the years.

My electorate staff deserve thanks for all that you've done not just for me but for the countless constituents, businesses and community groups who you've helped over the years. They were often needing your care and compassion, and you gave it. Ongoing, we have Robyn, who's currently working with the service clubs to help auto-electrician Nathan Reed, who provides second-hand vehicles for women who are escaping domestic violence. Your ongoing work shows your compassion and we will make sure that that gets done by you.

Thank you also to the electorate office staff who have moved on to other opportunities over the years. One of these is Ryan Hadji, who only heard yesterday that my valedictory was today. He flew all night just to be here. Ryan, thank you so much.

I cannot forget my Christmas mail-out volunteer envelope stuffers. You all understand the value of envelope stuffers. We've tallied it up today, and I think they've actually stuffed over one million envelopes in my time. A massive thank you to my assistant regional development ministerial team, who are here today, for their exceptional advice: Sophie Beeton, Sam Shirley, Rob Terrill and DLO Andrew Wilson. Thank you for your hard work and dedication, particularly in dealing with the challenges we faced during the COVID pandemic—the global pandemic—when we looked after the needs of Australia's most remote communities in Christmas Island, Cocos Keeling Islands and Norfolk Island.

I must also thank the 53 Regional Development Australia committees, who dialled in to me at my kitchen table at home, three times a week, to provide live, invaluable and accurate information about what was happening on the ground in each of their regions during the pandemic. From these meetings, we developed a regional intelligence bulletin which was passed on to every ministry—the various ministries necessary—to directly assist in the government's COVID response.

I am proud of what we all achieved together and with our key departmental staff. My teams know that they are just like family to me and, like my family, they are worth their weight in gold.

Thank you to all our truly amazing parliamentary staff—the chamber staff, committee and support staff, security, Comcar drivers, gardeners, maintenance workers, cleaners, hospitality and catering, as well as our baristas who work on the coffee carts—I see many of you using those.

I must thank the AFP, who work so hard to keep us safe. Their constant, protective security deserves our respect. In my opinion, they're legends: those here, in and around Parliament House, and our WA based AFP, who looked after me with great care during a risky situation. I really appreciate everything you do for us, domestically, and for Australia around the world.

Another person I need to thank is Julian Krieg. During his time as WA's regional financial counselling service chair, whenever one of the men had the courage to ring me when they were in desperate personal circumstances, Julian was my emergency go-to for practical help. On one occasion alone, he drove all night to get to a man I was particularly concerned about. To Julian's great credit, each one of those men he helped has gone on with their lives—the best result we could have hoped for in the circumstances.

Equally, many other wheat-belt families and men, supported through the Regional Men's Health Initiative, who have relied on Julian and his team over many years, have made sound decisions about their family and/or their business future. I thank you, Julian, if you're watching, for the lives you've saved. This is more proof that every day we have in this House as a member really matters and makes a difference. It shows what a difference we can make. I love the work I've done with palliative care and in childhood dementia.

In part, when I was elected, I was actually old enough—as you can see—to know that tomorrow is guaranteed to no-one, which is why we need to make the most of every day in life and in politics not only because we owe it to our constituents but also because each day we serve in this parliament is actually one day less we will get to serve in this parliament, particularly when you're in government. Please don't ever kid yourself—and this is the old whip coming out now—no matter what your margin is, there is absolutely no job security in politics. Your own side can take you out, or the other side can take you out or the media can—or all three! So don't ever forget what it takes to get here.

I've kept my very ugly but comfortable first campaign doorknocking shoes. I kept them right where I can see them every day when I get dressed, a reminder of what it took to get here and to never waste a day. Now, as Vicki knows, there was blood in those shoes. It was a very hot lead-up to the 2007 election, and in those days I had a 21,000 square kilometre electorate to get around, along with a range of major towns.

Like many of us in certain areas, I got used to being told where to go in very graphic terms. I admit at times I did get to the point of saying: 'I'm actually looking for directions. Could you please tell me where to go, nicely?' And, yes, I was chased by rottweilers, but the only dog that bit me was a jack russell. It's not even a great war story!

But, on the first day after I was elected, I sat down and thought about what I wanted on my last day as the member for Forrest. What I wanted was the respect of good people who knew what I was trying to achieve and who knew that my heart was in it. I wanted to maintain my integrity in what is rightly a tough political world.

That original class of 2007 became my great mates. We learnt a lot together. A number of us, along with our regional colleagues, have worked year in and year out on every regional and rural issue, such as higher education and youth allowance access issues for regional kids. We've been at it for years, and we brought together 30 of our colleagues as we worked through this. We've also worked on the critical importance and needs of small businesses in regional areas. Small businesses are often the lifeblood of small regional communities, and they employ the majority of the private sector workforce. In our communities, small businesses often give young people their first ever job and, for older people, often their last job. With several of my colleagues, I've worked closely with the dynamic small business minister Bruce Billson to deliver many sound small business policies and initiatives.

Early on in my time as an MP, I was a member of a communications committee which did a report into cybersafety and young people. I realised then, from the survey we did of young people, just what they were dealing with online and how much risk they were exposed to. I quietly developed a set of overheads, and I was encouraged by the Harvey business and professional women's group to offer it to our local primary school. And that was the start. As most of you in this chamber know, I have delivered hundreds—well over 400—of these cybersafety sessions to schoolchildren from preprimary through to high school, very quietly and very carefully. The sessions are aimed at helping them to stay safe online and to know how and where to get help. Mostly, though, these sessions are aimed at encouraging families to be involved from the first day the first device is given to their child.

A number of schools in my electorate have asked me to come in each year or when they had a particular problem caused by online behaviour or the constantly evolving risks with certain games, apps and sites. I want to thank these schools and the parents who've come along to these sessions. Over the years a number of teachers have quietly said to me, 'You have saved lives today.' I knew it mattered and I knew it worked. The mum of an 11-year-old girl, after I had been into their school, rang my office and said: 'My daughter has just come home. She has listened to what you've said and the way you explained it. She was being groomed online now, today.'

I am possibly the first Liberal Party member to have been appointed whip on day one in the parliament. I think it might be true. And, yes, it was a very steep learning curve, but the wise and capable Alex Somlyay was an invaluable mentor. Much of what I learnt from Alex stood me in great stead when I was appointed as the first female chief government whip in Australia's history. It wasn't just the practical and parliamentary organisational side of this role that was so important; a major part was to provide feedback from the backbench to the Prime Minister and to give him frank and fearless advice, even if he may not have always wanted to hear it. There is a great deal of trust involved in this role. I have always maintained and will always maintain the confidences of the Prime Minister, my ministers and members of parliament and staff members who have chosen to come to me. And, no, I will never write a book about those confidences or disclose those or this information to anyone—not one person.

To my colleagues, I don't need to tell you that national security, the defence of this nation, is the government's No. 1 priority. The coalition has always prioritised national security. All my life, this has been a priority for me, well before being elected. My family lived through World War II, and my mother was a World War II widow. Her husband was killed in Papua New Guinea in 1943. My sisters never knew their father, and my family has lived with this loss all our lives. So not only do I know, directly, what it takes to defend Australia—the sacrifices made by my mum's husband Jack Leonard and the over 103,000 brave and dedicated members of our Defence Force who have lost their lives to protect our freedoms—but I also directly understand the sacrifice made by their families, like my mother's and my sisters', which was why I became involved with the Defence Force Parliamentary Program as soon as I came into this place. I acknowledge, today, Major Daniel Tidd, who's here with the reciprocal ADF program.

I took part in as many of these programs as I could. I wanted to meet and listen to our people on the ground, wherever they were deployed. I wanted to hear from them exactly what they were dealing with and whether they had the right equipment and support to do what was needed wherever they were deployed to. One early ADF program had a very profound effect to me. It was the trip to Afghanistan in 2011, which ended in the week leading to the taking out of bin Laden, where I was on the ground with the troops. Prior to that time, I knew we'd problems with the CV joints on the LAVs, and we'd lost one of our first combat engineers in an IED explosion. I wanted to hear directly from his mates what had happened, and I did. It was something I will never forget, and every one of these Defence programs that I've done has reinforced to me what great Australians our ADF members are. And I was given a very direct lesson in how respected our ADF is overseas.

Many years ago, on a delegation, I laid a wreath at Tyne Cot Cemetery in Belgium to honour the memory of the over 1,369 Australians buried there. I followed that up with a visit to Polygon Wood Cemetery. At Ypres, I met the oldest Menin Gate bugler, and I thanked him for the huge commitment he and his volunteers made by playing 'The Last Post' every evening. That was over 30,000 times, at that point. He looked at me very seriously and he said: 'You listen to me. At the time, the Germans were determined to destroy our nation and our people. All we are and all we have is because of your Australians' blood on our soil. The least we can do is play your "The Last Post".'

We all understand how serious the Pacific, regional and global security risk is. On home soil, I've been absolutely devastated by the rise in antisemitism that has been allowed to flourish in Australia. My one surviving sister, Judy, whose dad was killed in World War II defending Australia and its values, said to me, 'This is not the Australia my dad fought and died for.' She is right. It is the duty of each one of us in this place to fight for and ensure that our democracy, freedoms and rights are preserved and protected.

I have great faith in the common sense and genuine goodness of the Australian people. So to every young Australian: You live in the best country in the world. What you can and will achieve is not limited by your postcode. Be proud of Australia, and be prepared to work for and fight for this country.

To my coalition colleagues: as a farmer, a small business owner and a regional Australian, I say that we have never needed a coalition government more than we do right now. I've been farming for over 50 years, and I've never been as worried. And it's a genuine worry, as my colleagues know well. To the Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton and our team, including Ben Small, the Liberal candidate for Forrest: all strength to your arms. Make the most of every day, do everything you can to win the election, but never forget the real forgotten people every day, or what makes us Liberals.

I have had some wonderful relationships and friendships on both sides of this House, and I value them dearly. Please all stay safe and well, and look after your loved ones. And a final thankyou to the people of Forrest. I've been grateful for every day you've given me.

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