Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to make a contribution for this short two-minute session about the democracy that we actually get to function in. I want to acknowledge the people of Ukraine and how fragile democracy is, and how set upon they have been by an attack of a hostile nation, with Russia coming over the border.

I experienced these freedoms as the new duty senator for the Labor Party out in the seat of Calare. I was able to go out there last week and see what nine years of government run by those opposite had delivered to the community. I met with quite a number of community leaders who were very dissatisfied with what they'd experienced. They're hoping for a much better outcome to be delivered by a Labor government.

I want to acknowledge Maree Statham, the mayor of the great City of Lithgow, and Cass Coleman, the deputy mayor. I followed that up with a free media interview—another thing we take for great in our great democracy—where 2BS's Jac interviewed me. We talked about the work and care report that was tabled in the Senate recently, and the important work of that to deliver safe and sustainable workplaces and family life for Australians. Then I met with the Bathurst Refugee Support Group, Nick from Vivability and the VIVA cafe—a disability service in Bathurst. I followed that up with a meeting with Robert 'Stumpy' Taylor, the mayor of Bathurst, and then met with Bishop McKenna and a visit to the Cathedral of St Michael and St John. The freedom that we have to move around in our democracy, to have champions in the community who stand up for what's right, is something that we all take far too much for granted. It's a privilege to be here; it's a privilege to serve.

To the people of Ukraine, I want to say to you: we value our democracy, we know you value yours. You are not far from our minds, from our hearts and from our strategic response to you in your hour of need.