Bill Shorten was first elected to represent the Melbourne electorate of Maribyrnong at the 2007 federal election.
Shorten was the National Secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union from 2001 to 2007.
Listen to Shorten’s Maiden Speech (19m)
Watch Shorten (19m)
Hansard transcript of Bill Shorten’s first speech to the House of Representatives on February 14, 2008.
Mr SHORTEN (Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services) (10:33 AM) —Congratulations to you, Mr Speaker, upon your election to this very important office. I rise today in full recognition of the honour which the people of Maribyrnong and the Australian Labor Party have granted me by enabling me to serve in this parliament. I rise in full recognition of the responsibility that comes with this honour: to serve my electorate and the Australian people. And I rise in full recognition of the historic moment the parliament and the Australian people witnessed yesterday when we said sorry to the stolen generation. What a time to join a new parliament, what a time to be part of a new government and what a time to be part of the creation of a new and more hopeful chapter in the ongoing story of reconciliation with Indigenous Australians.