This is the maiden speech to the House of Representatives by Dr Helen Haines, the independent member for Indi, Victoria.
Haines won Indi at the May 18, 2019 elections. Replacing Cathy McGowan, she became the first independent to succeed another independent.
Listen to Haines (27m):
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Hansard transcript of maiden speech by Dr Helen Haines, Independent member for Indi.
The SPEAKER: Before I call the honourable member for Indi, I remind the House that this is the honourable member’s first speech and I ask the House to extend to her the usual courtesies.
Dr HAINES (Indi) (12:04): Mr Speaker, congratulations to you on your appointment as Speaker and thank you for your warm welcome to me in this place.
Today as I rise in this House to give my first speech, I acknowledge the Ngunawal and Ngambri peoples, who are the traditional custodians of the Canberra area, and pay respect to the elders, past and present, of all Australia’s Indigenous peoples. I especially acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands across my large electorate of Indi—lands of the Wavereoo, Dhudhuroa, Bpangerang and Taungurung peoples. I honour the resilience, wisdom, dignity, scientific knowledge, the stories and art of the world’s longest surviving culture.