December 8, 2023
This is the maiden speech to the House of Representatives by Emma Husar, the new ALP member for Lindsay.
Hansard transcript of maiden speech by Emma Husar, ALP member for Lindsay.
The SPEAKER: Before I call the honourable member for Lindsay, I remind honourable members that this is her first speech. I therefore ask that the usual courtesies be extended to her.
When the new House of Representatives meets for the first time on August 30, it will have 39 new members, 26% of the chamber’s 150 members.
The ALP will have 23 new members, the Coalition 15 and the Nick Xenophon Team 1. There are 25 males and 14 females.
The ALP will have 23 new faces, exactly one-third of its 69 MPs. This includes 16 members in seats the ALP won from the Coalition and includes two returning members, Mike Kelly in Eden-Monaro and Steve Georganas in Hindmarsh. The other 7 new members have replaced retiring sitting members.
The Liberal Party will have 11 new members (19.7%), including Julia Banks, the member for Chisholm, who represents the only seat the Coalition took from the ALP in the election. Ted O’Brien regained the seat of Fairfax from the Palmer United Party. Nine other Liberals replace retiring members.
Bill Shorten has delivered the ALP’s policy speech for the 2016 federal election.
Picture credit: image posted on Twitter by @AustralianLabor
Speaking in Penrith, in the western Sydney seat of Lindsay, Shorten gave a speech light on new promises but heavy on appeals to the Labor faithful. Defence of Medicare was a constant theme of the speech, with Shorten paying homage to former prime minister Bob Hawke’s role in establishing the scheme in 1983.
The proceedings began with a speech by Emma Husar, the ALP candidate for Lindsay. Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen and Deputy Leader Tanya Plibersek also spoke.