This is the maiden speech by Katie Allen, the Liberal member for Higgins, Victoria.

Allen, 53, previously a paediatrician at the Royal Childen’s Hospital, won Higgins at the May 18, 2019 election. She replaced the previous Liberal member, Kelly O’Dwyer.

Higgins is an inner suburban electorate in Melbourne, created in 1949. It includes the suburbs of Prahran, South Yarra, Toorak, Malven, Armadale, East Malvern, Chadstone, Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Ormond and Hughesdale. Higgins has always been held by the Liberal Party, and is the only electorate to have been held by two prime ministers, Harold Holt and John Gorton. Allen is the sixth member for Higgins.

There was a 6.09% two-party-preferred swing against the Liberal Party in Higgins. Allen won with 53.88% of the two-party vote, the lowest ever recorded by her party. The Liberal Party won 47.86% of the primary vote, down 3.72%. This is the first time the Liberal Party has not won Higgins on the primary vote.

The ALP’s primary vote rose 8.85% to 25.38%. The Greens polled 22.47%, down 1.72%. At the 2016 election, the Greens beat the ALP into second place.

Listen to Allen’s speech (24m):

Watch Allen’s speech (28m):

Transcript of Katie Allen’s maiden speech to the House of Representatives.

Consideration resumed of the motion:

That the following Address in Reply to the speech of His Excellency the Governor-General be agreed to:

May it please Your Excellency:

We, the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, in Parliament assembled, desire to express our loyalty to our Most Gracious Sovereign, and to thank Your Excellency for the speech which you have been pleased to address to Parliament.

The SPEAKER (11:59): Before I call the honourable member for Higgins, 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. I call the honourable member for Higgins. [Read more…]