In a Parliament where Labor now governs with a commanding majority, five of its freshman MPs took to the floor for the first time, revealing their personal journeys to Canberra.
Ali France, who unseated former Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in the seat of Dickson, spoke about resilience, disability, and the power of Labor values rooted in social justice.
France described her win as “hundreds of little steps” and an “insurmountable mountain” seven years in the making.
A former journalist turned Paralympian, France lost her leg in a 2011 car accident after an elderly driver pinned her against another vehicle.
She thanked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former Queensland Premier Steven Miles for backing her campaign even when others said she should step away after losing thrice.
Recalling her first conversation with Albanese in 2018, she said: “You were the shadow infrastructure minister and you called me out of the blue. ‘Hey, it’s Albo. I’ve just landed in Brisbane, let’s have a coffee.’ What you were really saying was: ‘Hey, you’re one of us.’”
As she concluded, Albanese walked across the chamber and hugged her.
France also paid tribute to her father, former Queensland Labor MP Peter Lawlor, saying Labor values of economic and social justice shaped her childhood and guided her work.
“Those values drive everything I do and fight for in Dickson. In dad, I watched a masterclass in perseverance—he won his seat on the fourth attempt,” she said.
The MP also thanked the health professionals who helped her survive and recover: trauma surgeon Professor Martin Wullschleger, who amputated her leg, and Iraqi-born orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Munjed al Muderis, who enabled her to walk again.
Fighting back tears, she spoke of her son Henry, who passed away on Feb. 20, 2024, after an 18-month battle with leukaemia.
“He told me many times that this election was my time,” she said
Witty Pledges To Protect Vulnerable Children
Sarah Witty, the new member for Melbourne, who unseated Greens leader Adam Bandt in Melbourne, reflected on a decade of pregnancy loss and her journey into foster care, pledging to fight for children failed by the system.She shared her experiences supporting families in crisis—raising money for social housing and distributing essentials like nappies—and how she has repeatedly seen systems fail those they were meant to protect.
She also opened up about her personal journey through pregnancy loss.
“Over 10 plus years, we endured heartache after heartache,” she said.
Witty called for greater recognition of the challenges facing vulnerable families.
“What if even your best isn’t enough to protect them? What if you can’t put a roof over their heads or food on the table?” she asked.
She said it was children like Matt—one of the many she has cared for—who strengthened her resolve to do more.
Ng Targets Racism and Calls for Inclusion
Gabriel Ng used his first speech in Parliament to confront racism in Australian politics and call for greater cultural inclusion and representation.“Without the Labor Party, it is fair to say I wouldn’t be here today—not just here in this Parliament, but here at all,” he said.
Ng, whose Chinese father migrated from Singapore in the 1970s as a skilled aircraft engineer, credited Labor’s anti-discrimination reforms under Gough Whitlam for ending the White Australia Policy and making his family’s migration possible.
He reflected on growing up in Australia, facing subtle racism—from schoolyard slurs to being constantly asked where he was “really from.”
But he said it was Pauline Hanson’s 1996 speech warning Australia was being “swamped by Asians” that was a turning point for him.
“For the first time, I felt like I wasn’t fully Australian,” he said, criticising then-Prime Minister John Howard for not condemning the remarks.
Ng contrasted that silence with the leadership of former Labor Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, and warned that racist rhetoric continues to harm not only Asian Australians, but also Muslims, Jews, refugees, and Aboriginal communities.
“It is vital that young Australians of all races can look at federal Parliament and think: that is somewhere I can aspire to be,” he said.
Ng also paid tribute to Senator Penny Wong for paving the way for Chinese Australians in politics.
Coffey Says It’s Time to Rebuild Trust
Renée Coffey used her first speech to urge Parliament to reclaim public trust by embracing authenticity.“Too often, I heard, ‘Politicians are all the same,’ or ‘There’s no point in voting,’” Coffey said.
“Research tells us that Australia’s trust in government has generally declined since 2007, alongside a rise in dissatisfaction with how democracy works.”
Coffey, who unseated Greens housing spokesperson Max Chandler-Mather in a closely watched race, said rebuilding trust meant listening deeply, holding space for opposing views, and owning mistakes.
“It is in listening that trust is built, in courage that prizes honesty, and in kindness that drives justice,” she said.
She also reflected on her experience living with multiple sclerosis, recalling a voter who said he would not support her because she might one day need a wheelchair.
Urquhart Targets Net Zero and Health
Tasmanian MP Anne Urquhart used her speech to outline a vision to boost regional Tasmania’s prosperity by investing in renewable energy, health innovation, and improved connectivity.She said the region, home to wind farms and hydroelectric projects, is well-positioned to lead Australia’s clean energy transition.
“We have passionate people ready to produce energy, attract industry, and build components right here in Braddon. This will let young people build careers where they grew up,” she said.
Urquhart also called for better collaboration between health professionals, including nurse practitioners and pharmacists, to improve rural care.
“There’s so much more we can do if health professionals work together, not against each other,” she said.
She reaffirmed her commitment to mental health reform for first responders following a 2018 Senate inquiry.
“This is personal. I won’t leave it half done,” she said.
