Maiden speech pledges progress

The inaugural Member for Hawke has given his first speech in the Federal Parliament, acknowledging the “great honour” of representing the electorate for the next three years.

Sam Rae was elected as the first MP for Hawke – which includes Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Sunbury, and Melton – with 36.7 per cent of first preferences and 57.6 per cent of total preferences, at the 2022 federal election.

On Monday 1 August at 5 pm, Mr Rae addressed the House of Representatives for the first time in Canberra.

He started by acknowledging and thanking the Traditional Owners of the land on which Parliament sits, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, and the Wurundjeri and Wathaurong peoples of Hawke.

He also touched on the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and the need to continue working towards reconciliation.

He also thanked “the two extraordinary women” he “wouldn’t be here without”: his mother, a proud unionist and educator, and his partner Zoe, an industrial lawyer, and another proud unionist.

To his children Hunter and Banjo, and “the eagerly anticipated little sister in Mum’s tummy”, he apologised for the sacrifices they would have to make, but said they would be made “so that you and your generation can inherit a world that is kinder, stronger, and more just”.

As for the communities of Hawke, Mr Rae said not enough had been done to address huge population growth, with Melton set to surpass Canberra in population by 2050.

“Population growth is putting our physical and social infrastructure under immense pressure. After a decade of wilful investment failure by those opposite, our roads and transport infrastructure are inadequate to service our communities, severely impacting our quality of life, and in some cases, our safety,” he said.

“Our primary healthcare system is collapsing; it takes weeks to see a GP. Our modest hospitals can’t handle the increased demand, and lack the capability to treat the complexity of conditions that come with population explosion and diversification…much less a global pandemic.

“We have great schools and dedicated teachers, but enrolments are rapidly increasing. We need better facilities, and our teachers need a Federal Government – this Federal Government – that will have their backs and value their toil.”

As the representative of the “workers” of the electorate of Hawke, Mr Rae pledged to fight for their interests in Parliament.

“I’m here to fight for the people of Hawke, and stamp our values upon the national conversation. Fundamental to the issues we face as communities and a nation is the concept of prosperity,” he said.

“I speak of the prosperity enjoyed by healthy citizens, both mental and physical, where we and our loved ones can access world-class healthcare as a matter of right. I speak of the prosperity of opportunity, provided and inspired by access to education, training, fulfilling employment, and vocational pride.

“In the dusk of day, when we have fought and delivered for the communities of Hawke, of Australia, and our region, I’ll go home, where I belong, with my family.”

Mr Rae’s speech was met with a standing ovation, hugs, and handshakes from the MPs seated around him.