Dutton-slayer Ali France’s emotional first speech in parliament rocks nation

The new member for Dickson Ali France delivered an emotional first speech in parliament after becoming the first person to unseat an opposition leader.

The giant slayer Labor MP who stormed into parliament by winning Peter Dutton’s seat has delivered an emotional speech revealing how she lost her leg in a horror accident and her eldest son Henry to cancer.

The disability activist outlined her long journey into politics after a car accident changed her life in her first speech to the House of Representatives on Tuesday night.

Queenslander Ali France has revealed how her son Henry, 19, told her as he lay dying that she should never use his illness as a reason not to do important things.

“My epic journey to this place to represent the people of Dickson was not part of a grand plan, or a lifelong dream… rather it was hundreds of little steps,’’ she said.

“My journey to this place is not a sad story, nor is it a happy one, it is a human story.

Ali France MP delivers her first speech in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ali France pictured with her late son Henry. Picture: X

“The 2025 campaign was obviously my best. And that is quite a bizarre thing because behind the curtain I was grieving and desperately wanting to hold my son Henry.

“He passed on February 20, 2024, after an 18 month battle with leukaemia.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese watched on in parliament as Ms France said her son told her that she would win Dickson after several failed attempts.

“The week before, he was able to come home for a couple of nights,’’ he said.

“He asked to sleep in my bed, next to his mum, like he did for years when he was little.

“I watched him breathe all night, in awe of him, his courage and his ability to smile every day despite unbelievable pain and the never-ending hospital stays and treatment.

“I am so grateful for those hours. He told me many times that this election was my time.

“He was convinced I would win and said a number of times, ‘don’t make me the excuse for you not doing important things’.

“His words, his courage, were with me every day of the campaign. Henry was instrumental in getting me to this place.”

She was the first person to unseat a Leader of the Opposition when she ousted Peter Dutton in May. Picture: Adam Head / NewsWire

In 2011, Ms France and her younger son were at a shopping centre when an elderly man lost control of his car and ran into them.

While she pushed her son Zac, who was at the time in his pram out of the way, she was seriously injured and as a result had her leg amputated.

Then in 2024, the year before she won the seat of Dickson, she lost her eldest to leukaemia.

“People often ask ‘how are you standing’. I say, on one leg,’’ she joked.

“I lost my leg in 2011.

“The ground shifted, everything was hard to navigate, and I was pitied.

“But I survived and so did my baby Zac.

“Everyone in my life remembers the day I was supposed to die.

“I lived, thanks to trauma surgeon Professor Martin Wullschleger, and his team at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

“And the bravery of strangers at the scene – Megan Brennan who looked after my Zac, and Eric and Joe the two young men who pulled the car off me, and without whom I wouldn’t be here.

“Martin’s split-second decision to amputate my leg with a makeshift tourniquet saved me and ensured my kids had their mum.”

The Prime Minister was there to congratulate her. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms France shared the story of her long and challenging road to Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Everything they do at work ripples outwards. I left the hospital positive and determined to go to the leg shop, buy a leg, put it on and walk off into the sunset. Of course, it didn’t work like that.

“The first time I went out to dinner a lady stopped us and said, ‘you have such a pretty face, what a pity you are in a wheelchair’.”

Ms France had six surgeries in four years, suffered severe post-traumatic stress disorder, struggled to get out of the house, didn’t drive for nearly three years and had severe phantom pain.

“I was told I was unlikely to ever work again,’’ she said.

“I was at my lowest point when I entered the office of orthopaedic surgeon Dr Munjed Al Muderis.

“Munjed, a refugee surgeon from Iraq, put his arms around me and said ‘I’m going to do everything I can to get you walking again.’”

“I’ve now been walking for 11 years - with a little help from my wheelchair.”

“I am one of the first women with a disability to be elected to the House of Representatives and the first person to unseat an Opposition Leader.

“Kindness, a helping hand, opportunity and open doors have got me here. And that’s what I will be giving to the people of Dickson.”