This is the maiden speech of Ed Husic, the ALP member for the New South Wales electorate of Chifley, in the House of Representatives.

Created in 1969, the Chifley electorate is in western Sydney and has only ever been held by Labor members. Husic succeeds Roger Price, who held it from 1984 until 2010.

Husic suffered a 7.34% swing against him in the 2010 federal election, reducing Chifley’s two-party-preferred margin to 62.34%. Nevertheless, the ALP won the seat on primaries with 51.58%.

Husic, 40, has a background as an adviser to the Minister for Communications, Arts and Tourism (1994-96) and Chief of Staff to a NSW State government minister (2005-06). He worked for the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (1996-99) and was the union’s National President (2006-10).

He is the first Muslim member of the Australian Parliament. [Read more…]