First Speech | AustralianPolitics.com

Kristy McBain (ALP – Eden-Monaro) – Maiden Speech

August 31, 2020

Kristy McBain has delivered her first speech to the House of Representatives, following her election as the ALP member for Eden-Monaro at a by-election on July 4, 2020.

McBain

McBain’s maiden speech is the first to be delivered in the House since the imposition of COVID-19 rules. Family members were permitted in the public gallery, but not the usual group of supporters and friends. At the end of her speech, colleagues did not hug her or shake her hand. A few bumped elbows. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said the ALP gave her “a giant virtual hug”.

McBain, 37, is the former mayor of Bega Valley Shire. In her speech, she described herself as not of “the political class”.

At the by-election held to replace her predecessor, Mike Kelly, McBain polled 35.89% of the primary vote, a fall of 3.28%, in a field of 14 candidates. The Liberal Party candidate, Fiona Kotvojs, polled 38.33% of the primary vote, an increase of 1.32%. The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party polled 5.34%. After preferences were distributed, McBain polled 50.39%, to 49.15% for the Liberals, a swing against the ALP of 0.46%.

Watch McBain’s first speech (29m):

Elizabeth Coker (ALP-Corangamite) – Maiden Speech

September 10, 2019

The new ALP member for Corangamite, Elizabeth (Libby) Coker, has delivered her first speech to the House of Representatives.

There were twenty-seven new members of the House elected at the May 18 federal election. Coker is the last to deliver her maiden speech. She is the last of nine new ALP members.

A former teacher and journalist, Coker was a councillor on the Surf Coast Shire Council, having been elected in 2008 and serving as mayor in 2009-10 and 2012-13.

Coker unsuccessfully contested Corangamite at the 2016 election. At this year’s election, she defeated the Liberal Party’s Sarah Henderson, who held the seat for two terms from 2013. Henderson is about to be appointed to fill a casual Senate vacancy.

Coker secured a 1.04% swing, winning Corangamite with 51.07% of the two-party-preferred vote. She polled 35.47% of the primary vote, an increase of 1.41%. The Liberal Party polled 42.33% of the primary vote, a decrease of 1.34%.

Corangamite, a Federation seat established in 1901, is in the south-west of Victoria. It extends from the suburbs of Geelong, through Queenscliff and Colac, and through the towns along the Great Ocean Road.

Listen to Coker’s speech (31m):

Watch Coker (31m):

Hansard transcript of maiden speech by Libby Coker, ALP member for Corangamite.

The SPEAKER (17:18): Before I call the honourable member for Corangamite, I remind the House that this is the honourable member’s first speech. I ask the House to extend to her the usual courtesies.

Dr Anne Webster (Nats-Mallee) – Maiden Speech

August 1, 2019

This is the maiden speech to the House of Representatives by Dr Anne Webster, the Nationals member for Mallee, Victoria.

Webster succeeded Andrew Broad, who held the seat from 2013 to 2019.

Listen to Webster (23m):

Watch Webster (26m):

Hansard transcript of maiden speech by Dr Anne Webster, Nationals member for Mallee.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Rob Mitchell): Before I call the honourable member for Mallee, I remind the House that this is the honourable member’s first speech. I ask the House and the galleries to extend to her the usual courtesies.

Dr WEBSTER (Mallee) (12:31): Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the Ngunawal and Ngambri people on whose land we meet on today and the 11 traditional owner groups across Mallee. I pay my respects to their elders, past, present and emerging.

Dr Helen Haines (Ind-Indi) – Maiden Speech

August 1, 2019

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):

Watch Haines (28m):

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.

David Smith (ALP-Bean) – Maiden Speech

August 1, 2019

This is the maiden speech to the House of Representatives by David Smith, the ALP member for Bean, Australian Capital Territory.

As a result of a redistribution, Bean was a new, and third, seat for the ACT at the May 19, 2019 elections. Smith was previously an ACT senator. He filled a casual vacancy in 2018, replacing Katy Gallagher, who had been disqualified under Section 44 of the Constitution. Gallagher returned to her previous Senate position at the 2019 elections.

Listen to Smith (29m):

Watch Smith (32m):

Hansard transcript of maiden speech by David Smith, ALP member for Bean.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Bird): I congratulate the member on his contribution. Before I call the honourable member for Bean, I remind the House that this is the honourable member’s first speech and I ask the House to extend to him the normal courtesies.

Mr DAVID SMITH (Bean) (11:32): Let me begin by acknowledging that we meet on the most beautiful land of the Ngunawal and Ngambri people; a land I grew up on and know intimately. I pay my respects to the wise and caring elders past, present and emerging. In my time here, I will work tirelessly to ensure that this House does not simply acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians but that it actively empowers their communities, including my own here in the nation’s capital.

Posts tagged as “first speech”

Kristy McBain (ALP – Eden-Monaro) – Maiden Speech

Elizabeth Coker (ALP-Corangamite) – Maiden Speech

Dr Anne Webster (Nats-Mallee) – Maiden Speech

Dr Helen Haines (Ind-Indi) – Maiden Speech

David Smith (ALP-Bean) – Maiden Speech