Penny Allman-Payne (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I'm proud to put my name forward to be a member of the Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia. I have a deep abiding commitment to Northern Australia, its people, its places and cultures. The Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia requires members with a deep knowledge, understanding and respect for the region. As a regionally based senator who has spent the majority of my life living and working in northern Queensland, I bring these qualities to the role.

I have spoken extensively about my time spent as a teacher in northern Australia, but my experience doesn't only come from decades of living and teaching in the north. I also have significant commercial law experience working in trade and transport, with a focus on marine industries, which are critical for many communities across the north. I also hold the portfolio of northern Australia for the Greens, alongside the portfolios of industry, transition and regional development. I'm well placed to make a meaningful contribution to the important work of this committee.