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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-05-18 Daily Xml
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Address in Reply

Address in Reply

Adjourned debate on motion for adoption.

(Continued from 17 May 2022.)

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Waite, I remind members that it is the member's first speech and that the traditional courtesies of the house be extended to the member on this occasion.

Ms HUTCHESSON (Waite) (10:32): Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I congratulate you on your election, and welcome back to the chamber. I would also like to congratulate Her Excellency the Hon. Frances Adamson AC on her opening address and her outline of our government's bold policy agenda and thank her for her commitment to South Australia. I acknowledge the Kaurna people on whose land we stand today, and I also pay my respects to Aboriginal people across the state with the knowledge that their land was never ceded.

Having recently attended a meeting of the Blackwood Reconciliation Group, I pass on my thanks from Aboriginal people and the wider community in Waite to our Premier, Peter Malinauskas, who on election night recommitted to delivering a state-based Voice, Treaty and Truth to the Aboriginal people of South Australia. It meant a lot to them.

Just last Friday night, I was fortunate to attend a screening of the movie ColebrookReconciliation Park, directed by Matthew Shannon. This is a documentary about the Colebrook Home, which was established in 1944 in Eden Hills. It was here many children who had been forcibly removed from their parents by government officials or for other reasons were sent.

At the screening, I was joined by a friend of mine who I grew up with and whose son was in the film. We, as well as others in the audience, commented that when we were growing up we were never aware of the Colebrook Home, its residents or the travesty that is the story of the stolen generation, even though we lived less than a few kilometres away. Their story and experiences were well hidden. That is why we need truth telling.

I am glad to know that many children and young people from our local schools now visit the memorial that sits in the place where the house once stood. They are now taught about what happened to so many Aboriginal children there. Finally, the truth is being told. It broke my heart hearing the stories, seeing the ongoing impact and frustration of those who lived at Colebrook, and I commit to doing what I can to ensure we deliver on our commitment and I hope all in this place will as well.

To my fellow members of parliament, congratulations on your re-election. I extend special congratulations to those newly elected in this house. Your presence here today to listen to my first speech means a lot to me. We worked alongside each other, supporting each other with the hope of an extraordinary success, and we achieved just that.

I would also like to thank John Fulbrook for his first speech yesterday. It was heartfelt and, fortunately, longer than mine. To the candidates who were not successful, I wish you well. It is no mean feat running for an election. It takes hard work, determination and resilience as well as personal sacrifice, and I know that in time you, too, will join us here.

I would like to make special mention to my friend Ryan Harrison, Labor's candidate for Unley. You were a great support to me—you cannot be here today—there to listen, to help and you always believed in me. For that I will be forever grateful, and I look forward to helping you reach your dream of taking a seat in this place and serving your community.

To our previous member for Waite, Sam Duluk, I thank you for your commitment to our local community and wish you well in the future. To the other candidates who ran alongside in the election, including the Mayor of Mitcham, Heather Holmes-Ross, thank you for your commitment and civility during our campaign.

I stand here now as the first Labor member for the seat of Waite, as the first female MP for the seat of Waite and possibly the first MP in South Australia's history of Indian heritage (or at least the first to declare it). It was recently said that it took almost 90 years to have the seventh woman elected to South Australia's parliament and in just one day, on 19 March 2022, seven were elected. The significance of this is not lost on me.

Women have had to work hard to break the glass ceiling, to constantly be challenged to achieve equality and fair representation. Everyone deserves the right to be respected, to be acknowledged and to be safe at work, and I commit to continue to strive for equality and respect at work and hopefully be a role model for future women so they, too, might consider their political ambitions.

Last week, I was honoured to be joined by the women who have gone before, and to know that they are willing and ready to support me, and all the women members here now, means a lot—none more so than Gay Thompson, who supported me throughout the campaign and kept me calm during the long wait. She has continued to be there. Thank you.

I was born at Blackwood Hospital in 1975 to my parents Millie and Robert Rowe, who are in the gallery. My Australian story started when my father's family travelled from England in 1839, three years after the founding of the state, and settled in Lyndoch. This was my father's maternal family, the Gowers. The Rowe family sailed from Cornwall for 91 days, reaching Port Adelaide in 1850 before travelling by bullock cart in the November heat to Burra. My great-great-grandfather James Rowe was a Bible Christian minister travelling with the Reverend James Way, the father of the former Chief Justice of South Australia's Supreme Court, Sir Samuel Way.

My mother and my Uncle Johnnie travelled to Australia before being joined by my grandparents Cynthia and Archie Cline and my Aunty Max. The family set up home in Salisbury, where they started their new life. It must have been quite an experience coming from the bustling streets of Lucknow to Salisbury. They all went on to be successful in life. My grandparents were small business owners. Hollywood Crash Repairs was their pride and joy. They worked hard to provide for their children who all went on to have their own careers and to raise their own families, and they all remained very close. I am proud that I have this heritage and will always work hard to ensure that we support, include and deliver for all migrant families.

My parents met on a blind date set up by a mutual friend. Together they built a life in Glenalta in our Waite electorate and have lived there ever since. My father worked hard as an engineer and was the senior principal engineer on all but one of the Grand Prix in Adelaide, many interstate and overseas races, and also worked on the first Sensational Adelaide V8 race. You can imagine his excitement when he heard Labor is bringing it back to the street circuit. I look forward to being able to take dad to the race and to see the pride on his face.

Dad and mum have always been supportive of the harebrained ideas I have had, and none more so than when I told them that I was going to run for parliament. They were never particularly political when I was growing up, at least not that I can remember, but once I joined the union movement and began to call out injustice the tiger was released, and they now enjoy taking part in robust conversations on the benefits of a Labor government on Facebook.

As kids, we lived on the best street, California Crescent, always sunny and surrounded by other families and friends. We all went to school together, played cricket on the road together, snuck into each other's houses when we were in trouble, and grew up together. We lived across the road from the Belair National Park, a place that offered me a peaceful place to reflect, especially when I was running away from home when something had gone wrong. Of course, I was always back before dinner and probably no-one noticed my rebellion anyway.

Belair still offers me the feeling of peace and now I am usually in there most days with my best friend, Bowdee, a stumpy-tailed blue heeler. Protecting the park is something that I will do. It is home to some magnificent trees, native vegetation and wildlife. I plan to work hard to ensure that it is a wonderful place to visit for future generations.

The California Crescent gang was the first community I grew up in and I still see those kids today. It was lovely to doorknock my old street and visit my old neighbours, as well as those who have now moved into the homes I once visited, and be able to share stories of the fun we used to have. I also experienced this local familiarity in our wider community during the campaign, often knocking on the doors of parents of old school friends, work colleagues and customers I had served at many casual jobs as a young person.

One lady remembered me from working at the Blackwood fitness centre, a place I worked at when I was 17, and another from my time at the Belair Bhavan, an Indian restaurant in Belair. I worked there when I was 19 and apparently I had not changed at all, a very kind compliment but it is what being a real local is all about. That kindness goes to our community, and the fact that it is one that is hard to leave once you live there. If you do leave you invariably return to raise your own children, as it is the best place to be. Living in the trees is how I would describe it.

But, over the years, the density of the trees has reduced, often alarmingly, and it is something that I am passionate about. I was heartened to be able to not only introduce local 20-metre tree warrior Tom Morrison to our now Deputy Premier, Dr Susan Close, but to also provide real examples of why we need better protection for our tree state. I am glad to know that with Susan's passion and commitment to the environment we will go from the worst tree protection laws in the country to the best.

After I graduated from school I went to Flinders University but I found that science was not my calling in life. I realised I had a passion for food, not just eating it but creating with it. After studying at Panorama TAFE, Regency Hotel School and William Angliss TAFE I became a chef. TAFE is such an important part of our education and training system and I am so glad that both state and hopefully a future federal Labor government have committed to supporting TAFE.

I worked at various restaurants, moving from apprentice to head chef in one day. I began working at the Austral Hotel in 2001. It was and still remains a busy hotel. I often worked upwards of 70 hours a week, my boss letting me know that head chefs do not get days off, even when you are sick, there is a public holiday or you need to take time off. How things have changed.

I never knew about unions when I worked in hospitality. I never had anyone to give me advice on my rights at work, often working 11 hours a day, split shifts and often in hot kitchens under high pressure. I feel running a busy kitchen taught me about resilience, tolerance, care for my colleagues, working to please others and never giving up, because no matter how many bookings we had time could not stand still and we would get through it all.

It was at the Austral Hotel, where I met my husband, Craig. He was a wild one. In 2002 we bought our house in Upper Sturt, and in 2003 we welcomed our son, Finn, into the world. He was an absolutely beautiful baby who had the world at his feet, surrounded by love not only by us but our families. Everyone was enamoured by Finn, long curly hair, a cheeky grin and a laugh I wish I could have bottled. He was such a happy little boy. His laugh is still infectious today, albeit a little deeper.

In 2007, Finn and I were having dinner at my auntie's, something we did often, and there was a knock at the door—a knock that would change Finn's and my life forever. It was the police, and they were there to tell me that my husband had died. We must never forget that whilst the police are there to uphold the law they are also witness to things that you and I would hope to never have to see or deal with, and I pay my respects to those who take on that responsibility in our community.

I was in shock after they left, as was the whole family. My grief for my child and his future was overwhelming and I committed to him there and then that he would come first. With the help of my family and friends, Finn was raised by a village. My sister, Jo, who could not be here today, moved her family, my brother-in-law, Felix, and their three kids back to Adelaide to be here for Finn and I. Our boys grew up together.

Being a single parent taught me a lot. It is difficult financially but also emotionally to not have a partner to share the load and the love but also the stigma that can come with being a single parent. Providing support for single mothers and also families, older women, those with disability or those who are homeless who do it rough is something Labor does well. I know that having Nat Cook as our new human services minister will ensure that no-one is left behind.

I was fortunate not to lose my house, but there were times when it came close. I had family support but many do not. My husband grew up in community housing with his sisters, Eve and Sarah. My mother-in-law, Margo, remained there until she relocated to a nursing home. There was a roof over her head and it was comfortable, but it was clear it was commission housing.

Last week, I was fortunate to represent Minister Nat Cook in Strathalbyn to open new community housing built by Unity Housing. Previously, community housing or social housing was based on the bare necessities. Not only did this make it quite obvious, but it also left those needing a roof over their heads feeling like outcasts. It was wonderful to see these new properties certified to a gold standard and also NDIS-improved livability, so that families moving there would be proud of their new homes.

Having a pleasant place to live gives people the springboard that they need to a better future, and it was great to be able to speak of Labor's commitment to invest in public housing in response to the housing crisis that currently exists in South Australia. I will not forget what it was like to have no money left at the end of the week, having to create meals out of not a lot, or visit my parents, sister or aunty's house in the hope they would invite us to stay for dinner, so I will fight hard to improve the lives of all South Australians and look forward to working with Nat in this space.

With a young child to care for, cooking was no longer a career I could maintain. I moved to banking, taking up a job in the Unley branch of Bank SA before moving to the Stirling branch to be closer to Finn, who was at kindy there. It was in banking that I was first introduced to what a union did. Working in banking was a real change for me: nine to 4.30, able to be home in the evenings, not so stinky, and also to be able to make a difference in the lives of my customers, even if it was just to say hello and have a chat about their day.

I appreciated the opportunity to change direction in my career but often saw things in the workplace that did not seem right: working conditions challenged or colleagues struggling to get through the day. I wanted to help to fight for our rights and entitlements. I became the union rep, but soon I needed more. I realised helping others was in my blood and I was successful in getting a role as an organiser at the Finance Sector Union. It was here I could make a difference for my friends and former colleagues but also for workers across the industry and as a part of the union movement across Australia.

Working at the FSU taught me a lot. It taught me about collective action, about camaraderie, about not giving up and about looking outside the square for a solution. I was able to listen and advocate for our members—something that gave me great satisfaction. I thank those with whom I worked at the FSU—Jason Hall, Daniel Clutterbuck, Liam Dwyer, Sarah King, Celia Brougham, Clinton, Darcy, Ellie, Heidi Hammer, Cathy Cahill and the whole advocacy team—and the national executive who supported my campaign, and the many more who gave me their perspective on how to fight a good fight.

COVID was incredibly difficult for our frontline workers, and our bank and finance workers were no exception. As essential workers, branch staff had to turn up and work and serve customers, handle their money and continue to reach sales targets during the height of the pandemic. Many fell to the virus, often whole branches having to close as staff recovered or were close contacts. Many staff feared they would take the virus home to vulnerable family members. They persevered, though, and are amongst the heroes who kept our country going through this pandemic.

There are many stories of frontline heroes, especially those who work in health. Several of my family work in health, including at the Flinders Medical Centre. Our nurses, doctors, paramedics and support staff deserve our utmost gratitude. Many of these heroes live in Waite, as we are close to the hospital. I heard countless stories of exhaustion, struggle and frustration, and there was no end in sight. Many could barely hold on while they were hoping that a party that prioritised health over an entertainment complex would win so that they could finally believe that there was light at the end of the tunnel.

Labor's commitment to health, through our state policies and also through our partnership with federal Labor to redevelop the Flinders Medical Centre, will deliver the relief and support our health workers need and deserve. On Saturday, I encourage all in Boothby to consider this when they cast their vote.

There have been many moments in my life that led me to want to stand up for the community of Waite, whether it was feeling that no-one in the current government in Canberra cared about those doing it tough, always looking for ways to cut support to those who need it most, or the unfairness that exists depending on your postcode.

I live in one of the most beautiful electorates, as I said, living in the trees. One of our main issues that constantly came up while doorknocking was climate change and the lack of action by the Morrison government. Many in our community do everything they can. Every second house has solar panels, people recycle, they catch public transport and are mindful of the environment. I am proud to be part of a state government that knows we need to take urgent action and will deliver a greener hydrogen future. Switching off solar panels, instead of harnessing the extra energy we generate, is madness.

I know that in my community many took a sigh of relief that a Labor government was returned in SA and are hopeful to see one at a federal level so that real climate action can be taken. I wish both Louise Miller-Frost and Marisa Bell all the best on the weekend because Australia cannot afford another three years of inaction.

Climate, the environment, support for all and just plain kindness to others are values that I am passionate about. Protecting our community and being a local volunteer is another. I am a member of the Upper Sturt Country Women's Association and also the Soldiers Memorial Hall Committee. It has been through this association that I have met many incredible examples of community advocates. The former president of the hall committee, Jean Evans OAM, may she rest in peace, was a real inspiration to me, involved in so many organisations in agriculture, local council and the hall committee. Whilst we did not always agree about who to vote for, she was a trailblazer and will be remembered as such.

Carol McGough is another. Giving 98 per cent of her time to the community, she is the mother of our CFS brigade and the community at large, always ready to share her warmth when you need it. Fortunately, her husband, Allan, is also community minded, as are their children, so they all understand her commitment. Three generations of the McGough family are represented in our local Upper Sturt CFS, with over 100 years of combined service. Carol is the one who convinced me to join the CFS and I have never looked back.

The Country Fire Service family is special. They are volunteers who jump out of bed in the middle of the night to clear trees off the road, run towards a fire and actually hold a hose. These are the heroes who help protect in their darkest moments, when they are injured, when their houses are at risk and while they are also helping to protect the environment, animals and property.

It is something that I am most proud of, but the work of the CFS comes with great risk. This was never more evident than earlier this year when we lost someone I have known since our kids were very little, Louise Hincks. Her family kissed her goodbye when she headed out on a strike team to the Coles fire in the South-East, something they had done many times before. She led her CFS brigade of Happy Valley like she normally would, but sadly this time Louise did not return home.

Experiencing the true strengths of the CFS family as they gathered around her girls, Alice and Addie, and her husband and family was overwhelming, as was the support for the other firefighter who was seriously injured, also a friend of mine. Being a CFS volunteer is dangerous, and I will do all I can to ensure our firefighters have what they need to try to stay safe, to be able to do their job properly and to make it easy to protect our community. I was so pleased to hear that a federal Labor government will support the Sturt CFS should Labor win the 2022 election.

We are fortunate to have many volunteer groups and individuals in our Waite electorate, whether they go out to help the environment, such as the Friends of Parks groups and the eco climate walk kids, or the local community, such as the Blackwood Action Group, the Blackwood Reconciliation Group, Rotary, the Lions Club and more. They all give up their time and energy to help others.

Today is Wear Orange Wednesday, a day where we acknowledge the work of the State Emergency Service. Like the CFS volunteers, they answer the call no matter the time of day and we appreciate all that they do. In this Week of the Volunteer, I sincerely thank all of the volunteers across the state, and I look forward to working with our local volunteer groups as their member for parliament.

My commitment to our community is that I will work hard for all the people of Waite, even if I was not your first choice or second: you are all important to me. I know for some this was the first time you voted Labor and I will work every day to make you and our community comfortable with your decision and I thank you for your support.

To our loyal Labor voters, thank you for never giving up and thank you for all those who stopped to let me know they were so glad that their vote finally counted and Labor could not only form government but would also see Waite finally turn red. Your loyalty and commitment have finally been realised. I will do all I can to work really hard to make sure we stay a Labor seat and build on our community's strengths.

Mr Speaker, there are many people I would like to thank, so please indulge me. First to my family: to my son, Finn. He is not here today. I wish he was. He is an apprentice carpenter and is likely on the worksite. We have been through a lot together and it has not always been easy, but I am so proud of the man he has become. Finn, I am excited to see you become Adelaide's best carpenter. I know it is hard that I am not around as much at the moment, but know that I love you and I hope to get some balance soon so that we can hang out on the couch with some Netflix and pizza.

To my mum and dad, Millie and Rob, thank you for always being there, for picking me up when I needed it, with a warm hug and a plate of tuna patties—my childhood favourite. While my path has not always been clear, you have always supported my decisions and I thank you with all my heart.

Mum, you taught me that no matter what, family is everything. Your love and advice as I too became a mother and navigated being a parent is something that I treasure. Dad, you are such a hard worker and I know things have had to slow down for you now, but your commitment to helping me raise Finn the best way I could, having grown up without a father yourself, means everything to me. To see you both there glowing with pride on the first day of parliament, proud of your daughter, and feeling at peace that you no longer needed to pay my council rates for me was everything.

To my sister, Jo, and my brother-in-law, Felix, you have been incredible guiding lights for me, such wonderful humans, incredible parents, incredibly generous and always ready to support me. To Lucas, Oliver and Charlie, my nephews, thank you for being the siblings Finn did not get to have. It has been an honour to watch you grow up to be strong and caring men.

To my brother, Adam, and Olga, who have the flu, thank you for bringing the joy of children back to Christmas. Along with my cousins, Anjuli and Sam, Craig and Trevor—not in that order specifically—it is so lovely to be able to share in the joy of your children as they grow up as the second cohort of cousins.

My Aunty Maxine is like a second mother to me, ready with a cup of tea any time, day or night, always willing to drop what she is doing to help me and Finn, even letterboxing in the unforgiveable Upper Sturt area, I am forever grateful. To my Uncle John, who was and still is such a wonderful role model for Finn, I thank you for your hours of woodwork lessons, your late night doctor visits and for our robust political discussions. Thank you for helping me to see the other side and I am sorry you could not be here as you continue to battle illness.

There is also someone else who is not here who meant the world to me and I know is looking down so happy that I have been able to achieve this success, although she probably would not be happy about what side of the chamber I am on. To my nan, my soulmate, I wish you were here.

To my husband's family, David, Michelle, Eve, Sarah, and CeCe, losing Margo last year was difficult and made so much more with COVID, but I know she will be jumping for joy that Labor has been returned and that I am here.

I have family and friends spread across the globe but none more important than the Smiths. To Mike and Cathy, you were there for Finn when he really needed it and for me, when I was struggling with the throes of parenthood. Thank you for your guidance, your patience and golf instruction. It is not just a game but a mindset and I know Finn will always treasure his time with you.

To my CFS family, thank you for your friendship and everything that you do. To my girlfriends Lauren, Leisa, Leanne, Mandy, Amelia, Tamar, Jo, Mel and Belinda, we have had some epic journeys since we were kids and we have brought our kids up together. I thank you for your friendship, support and help on the campaign.

To my wonderful neighbours, Don and Susan, thank you for always being there, for your advice, your support and an ear when I needed it, for your help on the booth this election and last, it means a lot.

The campaign to win the seat of Waite started 4½ years ago for me, but for members of our Waite sub-branch, well represented in the gallery, it had been decades. With only four weeks to campaign in 2018, I walked into a campaign committee meeting to meet Michael Cook, Don Clancy, David Lewis, Phil Saunders and Francis Muldoon for the first time. I had no idea who they were and I had no idea what I was doing, but they were ready and while we did not come away with the win, we came away from it as friends and ready to commit to winning in 2022—and we did.

Our Waite sub-branch is one of the best attended state Labor sub-branches in South Australia, always drawing a crowd to discuss local issues, consider tactics, write motions and share our dedication every month, allowing us to grow support heading into the election. I was fortunate to be supported unanimously by the sub-branch to be the candidate for Waite again and I thank them for their trust in me.

We worked bloody hard. We had a core group of doorknockers ready to go out almost any day asked, all local, all aware of local issues so that conversations with voters were relevant. We knocked on a lot of doors—over 10,000. Waite, with all its hills and gullies, is not your average nicely flat electorate. But there was not a driveway steep enough, nor a set of stairs long enough to keep us from getting to the doors of our community and many will still stop and tell me they loved the fact that we climbed their driveways to listen to them.

To Julanne Sweeney, Francis Muldoon, Mick Cook, Ian Smith, Fiona Grey, David Lewis, Morris Allen, Darryl Regan, Patrick Donaldson, Helen Daly, secretary Doug Malvin, Aileen Croghan, Anton van Bavel, president Liz Temple, Peter Haigh, Peter Cahalan and Tim, and everyone else in the sub-branch, thank you for believing in me and for your help, and thank you to all the other secret letterboxing fairies and election day volunteers. This win is yours.

Thank you to Phil Saunders especially. You worked so hard for so many years as the president of the Waite sub-branch and, before that, Davenport. I am sorry that your health took you away from the opportunity to be involved in this momentous win, but it was your years of tireless campaigning and hope that inspired us all.

To Peter Cahalan, Rosemary Clancy and Kathryn Carter, our trainee in the office, thank you for joining the Waite office team. You are all wonderful and I know our community will love having you there to help. To Matty Driver: Matt, I am so glad to have you as part of the Waite office team. Your youth, skills and your passion astound me and the community. I know that you will go far. Thank you for sharing this part of your history with me.

To Daniel Clutterbuck, thank you for being my friend, my mentor for many years and now my office manager. Just like old times, we are a strong team. To my friend, campaign manager and office manager sometimes, Don: I would not be here were it not for you. You pushed me to almost breaking point but were always ready to catch me just before I hit the ground. Your support, advice, attention and dedication to the campaign, always believing that we could win, kept me going and still does. Thank you for your friendship and your smoke blowing; it means a lot.

Thanks also to your family: to Tanya, for giving up your husband for six months, and to Lucienne, Elliott and Lior. Lucienne, I am fairly sure that you, like the rest of the Clancys, will someday walk these halls, either as an MP yourself or as a support crew for one, and I look forward to that day.

Premier, Peter, you are an incredible leader. You have inspired a generation with your empathy and commitment to our shared future. Everyone in Waite knew you, they grew up with you, they played footy with you—and confirmed that you were pretty average—or they went to school with you. You were a leader from the start and I look forward to being here with you as your vision for South Australia is realised.

To the wonderful Dr Susan Close, growing up in our local area you know firsthand how special it is and I value your help. From announcing my candidacy at our first environment forum in August, our local community were enamoured by your knowledge and care for the environment. I know that you will be an amazing advocate for nature.

To Katrine, Nat Cook, the wonderful Emily Bourke, who cannot be here—

An honourable member: She was here.

Ms HUTCHESSON: —she missed it; she can thank me later—Jayne Stinson, Dana, Andrea and Zoe—the sisterhood—thank you for your support of our campaign. Thank you also to Tung Ngo, whose visits to our sub-branch meetings were our connection to the party and always put a smile on the team's face. For your and Suzanne's support, and being always willing to help, thank you.

To Justin Hanson, thank you for always believing we could win this. Your little texts of support, help on the doors and advice meant everything to me, and your support for Ryan's campaign was inspirational. John Fulbrook, the new member for Playford: the first time I met you said, 'I have crunched the numbers and you can win this.' You had my back from the start and I am so glad that I can share this chamber with you.

Thank you to Lee, such a special person, quick to offer support to the Upper Sturt CFS and our community to keep them safe, always there when I have questions, no matter how silly. I appreciate you. To Blair, Tom, Chris, Leon, Stephen, Michael, Joe, Tony and all of the Leg Co., I am looking forward to what we can achieve together. And Kyam—I have to do them both—we will get you up to Waite for the best sausage rolls in South Australia soon.

The spiciest seven, the women who grace these benches with me: it was incredibly inspiring to hear your stories this last sitting week and to hear the experiences that drive you and to know you all personally. I know that you are all amazing representatives of your communities and that you are here for all the right reasons and together we are going to achieve amazing things for the people and communities of South Australia.

To Nadia especially, you have been campaigning ever since I met you. Your dedication and drive are nothing short of incredible. You are like a Porsche with no brakes. You are just a force of nature and deserve all the success that comes your way. Thank you for your support for our campaign before, during and now as we embark on this journey together. Everybody needs good neighbours, and I am sure glad you are mine.

I also want to acknowledge all the staff of all members of parliament, and the staff at party office. I hope some day to have my own Josh as it seems you need one to become a minister. To Josh Harmer, the feeling is mutual—you are my favourite too!

To Matt Marozzi, thank you for doing all you could for us—for being a steadying voice on the end of the phone, for reminding us of our strengths and for advocating for us. I really appreciate it and wish you good luck in your new role.

James Johnson, your hug and tears on election night meant the world to me. Your support, belief and help during our campaign and now is special, and I am so glad you are on the hunt to become a Waite resident, and I look forward to working with you to protect and enhance our natural environment. To Aemon, Victoria, Reggie, Zac, Matt, Matt and all from party office who assisted us, thank you.

Our community of Waite is special. I will work hard to make sure that everyone is heard and that their views are respected. While boundaries change communities don’t, and I look forward to representing our community, to getting to know as many members of it as possible, to helping in every way possible, and to making them proud to have me, the first woman to represent Waite and the first Labor member for Waite as their local member for Waite. Thank you.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

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