- yesterday
Member for Whitlam, Carol Berry gave her inaugural speech at the House of Representatives on July 28, 2025.
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00:00It is a great privilege to stand here today representing the Australian Labor Party and the people of Whitlam.
00:05It's an enormous honour to represent an electorate named after the great Australian Gough Whitlam,
00:10who was Prime Minister from 1972 to 1975.
00:15Gough Whitlam's vision and achievements continue to benefit and inspire Australians half a century later.
00:22I would like to thank the Prime Minister for his support and for his focus on remaining humble
00:27and working hard for the people of Australia.
00:30The Prime Minister has assembled a great team and I'm honoured to be part of it.
00:35I'd like to acknowledge my predecessor, Stephen Jones, who's in the gallery today.
00:40He's served the people of Whitlam with distinction for 15 years.
00:44Stephen is universally admired and respected and he's one of the finest men I've ever had the pleasure to meet.
00:51I owe Stephen a great debt of gratitude and would not be standing here in this chamber were it not for his support and encouragement.
00:58His are big shoes to fill.
01:01However, I will dedicate myself to representing the people of Whitlam as honourably and effectively as Stephen has for the past 15 years.
01:08I was not born in my electorate, but in Wentworthville, in the heart of the New South Wales western suburbs.
01:16My mother, Diane, who's in the gallery today, was raised in a housing commission home in Dundas Valley near Parramatta.
01:23Many of my childhood weekends were spent at that housing commission home with its red-brown brick and its big backyard with a hill's hoist.
01:30My maternal grandfather fought in the Second World War in Borneo and my great-uncle fought on the Kokoda Track.
01:38Particularly for my grandfather, the scars of those experiences played out long after the war ended.
01:44My father, Geoff, was born in Manchester, England and came to Australia with his sister and parents when he was two.
01:50My mother is the most honest and sincere person I've ever met.
01:56Likewise, my father is a deeply ethical man.
01:58Instead of being here at my first speech today, my father's in Cambodia, volunteering his time to improve educational and employment outcomes for young people in that country.
02:09I'm deeply proud of his work.
02:11I have two big sisters, Julie and Jane, who are also in the chamber today.
02:17Julie has been a public school teacher for over 30 years.
02:20Jane is a paediatric occupational therapist who's worked with children with cerebral palsy also for 30 years.
02:26I'm so proud to call these two amazing women my sisters.
02:31The values that we were raised with as kids included the importance of being honest, reliable, hardworking, considerate of others, independent in thought and action and above all, the importance of taking responsibility.
02:46I was not raised to value material possessions or to acquire wealth or status, but instead to demonstrate independence, strength of character and, most importantly, to do the right thing.
02:58My family are no-nonsense, humble and honest people.
03:03We aren't big on ceremony and we don't engage in fakery in any form.
03:06In these respects, we are quintessentially Australian.
03:11Australians are pragmatic, moderate and fair-minded people and I come from a pragmatic, moderate and fair-minded family.
03:19Given my family's circumstances, we understand the power of equal opportunity.
03:24Our belief in social justice runs deep.
03:26Sitting in the living room of their housing commission home in Dundas Valley as my mum was growing up, my grandparents could not have imagined their granddaughter would one day become a federal member of parliament.
03:38I wish they were here to see it.
03:41There are three things to know about me.
03:43Firstly, because I come from humble beginnings, I'm not seduced by power or position.
03:48I have no interest in the trimmings of success.
03:51I know these things are not fundamentally real or important.
03:55The only thing that really matters is being true to yourself and others and showing character when it matters most.
04:03Secondly, I'm easily moved.
04:05Hopefully, that's not demonstrated in this speech today.
04:07I wear my heart on my sleeve and I care deeply about the world and about people.
04:13Thirdly, I have a lot of energy and I like to get things done.
04:17The only thing that truly irritates me in life is if you get in my way when I'm trying to get something done, particularly if you slow me down.
04:23This tendency towards impatience seems to be a core part of my personality, as my very patient husband will attest.
04:30On all sides of my family and in my close personal relationships, you'll find fiercely independent women.
04:39My grandmother, Gladys, who was the best example of this, came from quite dire poverty and hardship.
04:46To this day, she is the toughest and most direct woman I ever met.
04:50She was, at her core, a survivor.
04:52I admired her grit and determination.
04:57Gladys was also incredibly hard-working.
04:59She worked and she saved.
05:01She gave some money to my parents and they bought a block of land in the Blue Mountains suburb of Hazelbrook.
05:06My parents built a home there and they still live there today.
05:10I lived in the Blue Mountains until I was 18.
05:13As a child, I spent a lot of time in the bush, mostly bushwalking, camping or just playing.
05:17As a result, I have a deep love of nature and a deep desire to protect our national parks, rivers, creeks, beaches and forests and our amazing wildlife.
05:29Of the many trillions of planets in the known universe, only one that we know of sustains life.
05:37We are the caretakers of an extraordinary phenomenon, life on Earth.
05:41It is our job to protect it.
05:43I hope to use my time as a federal parliamentarian to be a passionate defender of our natural environment.
05:50The human and economic impacts of climate change will only intensify unless we take radical steps to decrease the amount of carbon we are releasing into the atmosphere.
05:59I support all efforts to decarbonise our economy.
06:03And I'm a very strong supporter of renewable energy, particularly solar energy.
06:07I'm proud of the progress being made by Australians, including in the electorate of Whitlam, in relation to rooftop solar.
06:14I will be a passionate advocate for fast-tracking our progress towards our economy being powered entirely by renewable energy, which I'm certain will easily happen in my lifetime.
06:25I come from a family of teachers.
06:27My father, aunt, sister and husband are all public school teachers.
06:31I was proudly educated in public schools, and my children also attend public schools.
06:37I'm a fierce advocate for public education because it safeguards Australia's tradition of fairness and equal opportunity, which is the core tradition which makes Australia the greatest country in the world.
06:50When I was 18 years old, I moved to the Illawarra to study arts law at the University of Wollongong.
06:54I became deeply involved in campless life and made many lifelong friends, many of whom are in the chamber today.
07:01I was elected president of the Students' Association and immersed myself in many causes related to the environment, gender equality, the right to affordable education and other community issues.
07:13When I moved to Wollongong, I knew I'd found my spiritual home.
07:16The layers of First Nations history and the waves of migration that have made our region so rich in diversity and community spirit make the Illawarra a very special place.
07:27The history of the Labor movement also runs deep in our town, and we have a very proud tradition of activism.
07:34I'm proud to have raised my children in the Illawarra community.
07:37It is my home, and I'll never leave.
07:39However, if I was to move anywhere, the Southern Highlands would be my choice.
07:44The Southern Highlands is a magical place, with its national parks, farmland and wonderful villages and towns.
07:52I've fallen in love with this beautiful region, and it's an honour to represent the Southern Highlands community as part of the Whitlam electorate.
08:01The Whitlam electorate is blessed with some incredible landscapes and so many wonderful communities.
08:05One of the jewels in our electorate is the farm at Killalee, named the best beach in New South Wales and the second best beach in Australia.
08:27This extraordinary place was protected by the local community, and was also where I taught myself how to surf.
08:34For anyone who harbours a dream to learn how to surf, can I assure you that if I can do it, anyone can.
08:40I should also let people know that my surfing is far from impressive, but I can stand up, albeit not for very long.
08:46I've tried to make my life one of service to the causes I believe in.
08:52One of my first jobs was with Family Planning Australia.
08:55I worked on reproductive rights campaigns, and I'm a staunch advocate for gender equality.
08:59I'm passionate about women's health.
09:02In a later role, I was the CEO of the Illawarra Women's Health Centre, where I worked with the local community, particularly the First Nations community,
09:08to enable women to connect with and support other women.
09:12We promoted women's health and supported women escaping domestic violence.
09:17I worked as a solicitor for the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, where I ran multiple test cases and law reform projects in the public interest.
09:25A core focus was supporting people living in institutional care settings to have their rights upheld.
09:31It was in this role that I gained a much better understanding of the life experiences of people with disability,
09:35particularly those who'd been institutionalised from a young age.
09:42I was so moved by the life experiences of people with disability that I've worked mostly for and alongside people with disability ever since.
09:50I became the CEO of the New South Wales Council for Intellectual Disability,
09:53where we advocated for people with intellectual disability and their families to be able to get access to better supports and services.
09:59I worked alongside amazing advocates such as Robert Strike, Fiona McKenzie, Christine Regan and Jim Simpson.
10:08I met the amazing Doogie Hurd and learned so much from him.
10:11This was all pre-NDIS.
10:14It's been amazing to watch the difference the NDIS is making to Australian society.
10:19While the NDIS obviously has its issues, it's a world-leading scheme that reflects the fair-mindedness and decency of the Australian people.
10:27Most recently, I was employed as a CEO of one of the largest providers of disability services in Australia, the Disability Trust.
10:36I'd like to thank Dr Peter Langkamp and the board, including former CEO Margaret Bowen,
10:41and the broader family of clients and staff at the Disability Trust.
10:45The support afforded to me by the Disability Trust as I transitioned into my new role as an MP was extraordinary,
10:51and I'm incredibly grateful.
10:52Working alongside people with disability for so many years changed my life.
11:01My humanity, compassion and perspective has deepened, and I'm quite simply a better person for that experience.
11:08I'd like to do a very big shout-out to people with disability and their families, carers, therapists and staff across the country.
11:17You are a truly wonderful group of people who contribute so much to the fabric of Australian society,
11:24and I'm so proud to have been in your ranks.
11:27I'm profoundly lucky to have been influenced and shaped by amazing people who I've worked with and known throughout my life.
11:35Often these people started their careers or their advocacy efforts with no power at all,
11:40and with the sheer force of their integrity and belief in a better world,
11:44they've bent the world to their will and have had a lasting impact.
11:48I can only hope to emulate the path of these impressive leaders.
11:51I'm a believer in our big public systems.
11:56While I'm an MP, I'd like to be a strong defender of our public systems,
12:00which make such a difference in people's lives and are fundamental,
12:03absolutely fundamental to ensuring that we live in a decent and fair society.
12:08Our public education and public health systems could and should be the best in the world.
12:13Our aged care system, the NDIS, our mental health system, our social welfare system,
12:20how we support early childhood education, how we support veterans.
12:25These are all the hallmarks of our collective decency.
12:29It's critically important that Australia is a place where everyone can get access to a quality
12:34and affordable education and health care,
12:36and that we have a strong and effective social welfare system where we treat all people,
12:41particularly pensioners, with respect.
12:45The foundations provide, these foundations provide security for all Australians,
12:49so that irrespective of our circumstances, we have the foundation to be healthy,
12:54to have a job if we want one, where you can re-skill, retrain and get access to the skills
12:59and education you need to flourish.
13:02Combating ageism is also incredibly important.
13:05It's also vitally important that all Australians can have a roof over their head.
13:09It's fundamentally important to me that we don't let any Australian fall through the cracks.
13:16I intend to be a voice for the voiceless to ensure that the stories of everyday Australians
13:20in the Whitlam electorate who are struggling financially,
13:23who are isolated and lonely, who are afraid to speak out,
13:27who are lost or broken, are told in this place.
13:31I'm not afraid of vulnerability.
13:33I see it as an opportunity to deepen and strengthen who we are, both individually and collectively.
13:40I'm passionate about the importance of fostering community spirit.
13:46Community spirit matters.
13:48It's real and it's alive.
13:50And in my electorate, I see the evidence of it every day.
13:54Through sporting clubs, community organisations, local businesses,
13:58organisations that facilitate volunteering, like the RFS and the SES,
14:02through RSLs and surf life-saving clubs, just to name a few.
14:08These organisations are the lifeblood of the Whitlam electorate
14:11and the soul of our great nation.
14:14I do ask myself the question, where will Australia be in 20 years?
14:19We can be a mature voice for peace.
14:21We can be a thriving, open, dynamic and energised, low-carbon economy.
14:28We can be excelling in the areas of tourism, creative and digital arts and design,
14:34manufacturing, construction, food production, human services,
14:38science and technology, finance and IT,
14:41and educational and professional services.
14:45To me, our nation must be grounded in three key ideas.
14:49One, that we care about each other and our future,
14:54and that we live in a nation where trust, kindness, respect and dignity matter.
15:00Two, that we value connection,
15:02that we'll support one another to be connected at all stages of our lives,
15:06as we know this is crucial to overall wellbeing.
15:09And three, that we'll continue to create opportunities for all Australians
15:13to achieve their potential at all stages of life.
15:16If we pursue these ideas, in my mind, our future looks bright.
15:21I'm passionate about democracy, and specifically social democracy.
15:26I will defend and uphold human rights and democratic processes and freedoms.
15:32I also believe in the power of private enterprise.
15:35The innovation and wealth that can be created by harnessing the power of private enterprise
15:40is extraordinary, and often in the broader public interest.
15:43I'm supportive of local businesses that employ local people,
15:48and add so much flavour to our local economies and communities.
15:53The people of the Whitlam electorate have told me they care about ensuring
15:57that there's a strong economy and local jobs, both now and into the future.
16:02We care about the environment, and ensuring that all Australians are looked after.
16:05We care about our quality of life, and that as our communities grow,
16:11that we ensure this growth is well managed and well planned.
16:15It is easily the greatest privilege of my life to have been elected the member for Whitlam.
16:20I would like to dedicate this victory to my family, and to all my supporters,
16:25many of whom who are in the gallery today.
16:28Without you, I would not have this opportunity, and I'll be forever grateful.
16:32I'd like to thank the member for Sydney, Tanya Plibersek,
16:37for her many years of support and encouragement,
16:40and for being an inspiration to me for over 20 years.
16:45I would also like to thank the member for Newcastle, Sharon Clayton,
16:48for her support, and for being my wonderful Emily's List mentor.
16:52I'd like to thank Senator Jenny McAllister, and Senator Tim Ayres.
16:57I'd also like to thank the member for Cunningham, Alison Burns,
17:00and the member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, and I congratulate both of them on their re-election.
17:07I'd like to thank the New South Wales Minister for Health, the member for Keira, Ryan Park,
17:11and the New South Wales Minister for Planning, and the member for Wollongong, Paul Scully,
17:15and the Lord Mayor of Wollongong, Tanya Brown.
17:17I'd particularly like to thank the member for Shell Harbour, Anna Watson,
17:22who's in the gallery today, who was such a wonderful support to me during my campaign.
17:27I'd also like to thank George Simon, the Assistant Secretary of the New South Wales Labor Party,
17:32Josh Lloyd, and Amy Knox, for all their support and assistance.
17:36I'd like to acknowledge Chris Lacey and Karen Stephens for their many years of friendship,
17:40and I'd like to thank Chris for his work with the Multicultural Communities Council of the Illawarra
17:44and for his many years of service to the Illawarra community.
17:48I'd like to thank the ALP branches in the Whitlam Electric,
17:52the DAPDO, Albion Park, Oak Flats, Shell Harbour, Barrick Heights,
17:55and the Southern Highlands branches.
17:57His brilliant and hard-working members helped me get elected.
18:00I'd like to thank the union movement for its invaluable support,
18:05particularly Narelle Clay, an extraordinary leader who I've admired for a very long time,
18:10Dana Nels and Angus McFarlane and the Australian Services Union,
18:14and Brooke Musket and Mel Donnelly and the Community and Public Sector Union.
18:19Thank you all so much.
18:22I'd like to acknowledge and thank Henry Rajendra and the New South Wales Teachers Federation.
18:27Henry and his team ran a wonderful campaign during the election,
18:29and I'd like to applaud the Teachers Federation for its tireless defence and promotion of public education.
18:36I'd like to thank Arthur Rorris for his many years of service to the South Coast Labor Council
18:40and to the people of the Illawarra.
18:43I'd like to thank my campaign committee, very capably led by Eilish Quinn,
18:48to the amazing Alison Mansell and the equally amazing Penny Newlove,
18:52who devoted hours and hours of their lives to ensure that we retained the seat of Whitlam
18:57and that we had a Labor government re-elected.
19:00Other members of my campaign committee included Georgia Roth,
19:04Tiana Myers and the wonderful Jeremy Graham, who was so kind to me during the campaign,
19:09Simon Zulian and Darren Garcia.
19:11It was such a pleasure to work with you all.
19:14I'd also like to thank Linda and Graham McLaughlin,
19:17whose hard work and generosity I'm so grateful for.
19:19Thank you also to the members of my staff who've joined my team since the election,
19:23Michael Sharp, Jai Langley, Josie Stewart and Jack Vernon.
19:27I honestly can't thank you all enough.
19:30I'd like to thank my beautiful husband and soulmate.
19:33Callum, I am the luckiest woman in the world to have you as my husband.
19:40Thank you to my stepdaughter, Amelie, my son, Will, and my daughter, Stella,
19:45for your patience, kindness, honesty, and your unflinching support.
19:50I'm so deeply proud of you all.
19:55Thank you to my parents, Jeff and Diane, my auntie Judith,
20:00and my beautiful sisters, Julie and Jane.
20:03Thank you to my wonderful extended family, the gorgeous Emma,
20:07Matt, Steve, Chubba, Blake, Burrish, Fiona, Jack, Joan, Heather, and Elizabeth.
20:16To my friends, my very best friend in the world for over 30 years,
20:20Jane Andrew, thank you.
20:22I can't imagine my life without you in it.
20:25To my wonderful friends, Damien, Alyssa, Naomi, Zadie,
20:30Fergus, Amy, Patrick, Penny, Mel, Shane, Cara, Taylor, Indie,
20:35Jane, Annie, Emma, Gemma, Mithra, Martin, Shady, Ben, Scotty, Kaz, and Nathan.
20:45I'm so grateful to my family, friends and supporters,
20:49and the opportunity to represent the people of Whitlam.
20:52I'm optimistic about our future, and I'm thrilled to be in this place.
20:58I will work harder than I ever have before in my life
21:01to shape our presence and to build Australia's future for the better.
21:05Thank you, Speaker.
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