Chisholm Liberal MP Gladys Liu takes over from Julia Banks

Before the federal election Gladys Liu was largely an unknown, but the Chisholm Liberal MP has revealed the Melbourne heavyweight behind her rise to power.

Gladys Liu is the new representative for Chisholm.

Tai chi coach, speech pathologist, restaurateur, karaoke-enthusiast, business owner, and political adviser.

And now Gladys Liu can add Member of Parliament to that long list.

The Hong Kong migrant became the first Chinese-Australia woman to be elected to the House of Representatives after she won a close contest for the seat of Chisholm against Labor candidate and fellow migrant Jennifer Yang in May.

Ms Liu said it was “very exciting” her election had improved the multicultural representation in Canberra.

Gladys Liu (right) beat Labor candidate Jennifer Yang in the fight to represent Chishom.

“It reflects truly the multicultural makeup of this country,” she said.

Ms Liu said she wasn’t surprised to be the first Chinese-Australian woman sitting in the Lower House.

“It has never been easy for a migrant to get into high office,” she said.

“I’m one of the migrants. I came to the country, knew nothing about this political system.

“My English was very limited at the time. I didn’t know the culture of this country. It takes a while to settle in, to understand, before you can embrace it.”

Ms Liu moved to Australia 34 years ago to study speech pathology.

Gladys Liu being sworn in at the start of the 46th parliament, in the House of Representatives Chamber, at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith

After qualifying as a speech pathologist, she spent 14 years working for the Department of Education and set up her own clinic in Doncaster.

Ms Liu said she opened Melbourne’s first bilingual speech pathology clinic, where she treated clients in both English and Mandarin, because of the city’s increasing Chinese population.

“I felt that there was a need,” she said.

The mother of two children, who are now aged 27 and 24, also co-owned two restaurants at the time.

Ms Liu said she stopped running her clinic in 2007 when she was asked to step into politics and work for then-Victorian Liberal opposition leader Ted Baillieu.

MORE: THREE-STOREY MOSQUE TO BE BUILT IN BLACKBURN

‘NEW CHINATOWN’ DEVELOPER’S GRAND DREAM IN LIMBO

‘ABSOLUTE CHAOS’: NEIGHBOURS FEAR PLAN TO TURN TWO HOUSES INTO 12

She said she continued to advise him on the Chinese community, Chinese affairs and dealing with Chinese media when he moved into the Premier’s office in 2010, and stayed on with then Premier Denis Napthine after Mr Baillieu stepped down from the role in 2012.

Ms Liu was then “one of the hardworking volunteers” who worked on former Chisholm MP Julia Banks’ campaign in 2016.

Ms Liu said she had expected this year’s fight for Chisholm would be the close call it was.

“We won Chisholm in 2016 and prior to that it was a Labor seat for 18 years.”

In the lead up to the election she was accused of having made homophobic comments and of her party using dirty tactics with its signage in election day in Box Hill.

In relation to her comments about the LGBTQI community Ms Liu said there was “no point talking about something in the past”, with her focus on the future.

And she said she had no involvement in using purple colours on liberal signs at polling booths.

Still, she wasn’t surprised she come out on top.

Gladys Liu is the first Chinese-Australian woman to sit in the Lower House.

“I always work hard for what I want,” she said.

Ms Liu said she spent seven months working double shifts for her campaign, doing up to 20-hour days.

And now she has got in, she’s ready to give her all to Chisholm.

“(I) just want to make sure that this electorate gets what they deserve — to have a hard working member to work 100 per cent for them,” she said.

The new MP is being advised by former Burwood state Liberal MP Graham Watt.

Ms Liu said she had lived in and around Chisholm for the past 30 years and had been involved with Melbourne’s Chinese community for more than 20 years.

She is a longtime member of the Hong Kong Club Inc Victoria and the Chinese Professional and Business Association, has been a delegate to the Federation of Chinese Associations and has helped run Melbourne’s Chinese New Year festival.

Gladys Liu worked “double shifts” as she campaigned for Chisholm.

She said being able to speak Mandarin, Cantonese and English had “been very, very helpful”, allowing her to act “like a bridge” between those who were predominantly Chinese-speaking and other Melburnians.

She said her background would be a great advantage for her as she represented Chisholm’s Chinese population.

But Ms Liu wants to make it clear she is “here for everyone”.

“I’m here to serve all people, not any particular ethnic group,” she said.

She has invited anyone to visit her office or to contact her with an issue.

“If there’s anything I can do, I will definitely do my best.”

Ms Liu said one of her goals was for constituents to have more money in their pockets, and was proud to have been part of the government’s recent tax cuts.