Kooyong MP Monique Ryan chokes back tears in first speech to parliament

The MP who toppled former treasurer Josh Frydenberg has held back tears while addressing parliament for the first time.

Monique Ryan jokes her election proves not all once in a century events are bad.

For the first time ever the once blue ribbon seat of Kooyong in Melbourne’s east is held by an independent woman – it is also the first time an incumbent has been defeated since 1922.

“I will not be the last,” she said in her maiden speech to parliament.

But the top medical professional and paediatric neurologist’s path to Canberra was charted years before she even considered putting her hand up for parliament.

It was “candle” lit by Cathy McGowan in the rural Victorian seat of Indi in 2012, who set the cogs in motion for Dr Ryan’s win a decade later.

Dr Ryan (far left) being sworn in alongside fellow teal independents. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“Many of us felt that our elected representatives no longer reflected our values – that our government was not listening to our voices,” she said.

“But then, in 2012, a candle was lit – in the seat of Indi, where the McGowan sisters, their nieces and nephews and Helen Haines harnessed the power of a community and demonstrated the possibility of a new political paradigm in this country: independent representatives chosen by their community.”

Dr Ryan wasn’t the first to be inspired by the Indi movement. She noted the hard work of Oliver Yates who ran before her in 2019.

But by 2022, things had changed. Two years of the pandemic, inaction on climate change and rising costs of living set up the platform which saw her topple a sitting treasurer.

“The people of Kooyong … they sought change, not for their individual interests, but for decency and democracy, and – above all – for the next generation to be safe and prosperous in a hospitable world – for action on climate change,” Dr Ryan said.

Dr Ryan said the candle for her election was lit over a decade ago. Picture: Arsineh Houspian

Dr Ryan visibly choked up several times throughout her speech, but most notably when talking about the loss of her nephew Hector in a car accident in 2017.

She paid tribute to her “excellent education at a convent school” by feminist nuns – some who showed up to volunteer in her campaign.

The new MP was one of the most high profile pro-climate candidates at the 2022 election.

In her address, she called on the government to restore faith in politics and act on climate change.

“As a doctor, researcher and scientist, my job has always been to care for children and to protect their futures,” Dr Ryan said.

“I stood for election for the seat of Kooyong because I felt – and the people of Kooyong felt – that our previous government was not doing that.

“Science has shown us that we need increased ambition and urgent action in our rapid transition to a net zero emissions world.”