Independent MP for Indi Helen Haines vows to tackle ‘climate change crisis’

New independent MP for seat of Indi vows to tackle “big issues’’ in parliament.

Helen Haines is congratulated after delivering her maiden speech as member for Indi today. Picture: Gary Ramage

Independent Helen Haines — who replaced Cathy McGowan in the Victorian seat of Indi — has vowed to tackle the “big issues” including the “climate change crisis” while in parliament.

Delivering her maiden speech in the lower house today, the former midwife and director of the University of Melbourne’s Rural Health Academic Network said she would advocate for regional Australia — an area, she said was “particularly vulnerable to the impact of climate change.”

“We are experiencing extreme summer heat, less reliable autumn breaks, reduced winter and spring rainfall and decreased snow cover,” she said. “We may well see the complete loss of the Victorian Alpine zone this century. Our physical and mental health is being impacted.”

“We urgently need greater investment in research and development, together with innovative policies, to assist agriculture and health care to adapt to our rapidly changing climate and to identify new profitable and sustainable opportunities.”

“The evidence is clear that we are facing a climate change crisis. We are also presented with a once in a generation opportunity for regional Australia to lead the way in the development of renewable energy and to prosper from new economic opportunities.”

A huge crowd of supporters, including members of Dr Haines’ family, sat in the public gallery to hear the speech, having travelled from Victoria’s north east for the occasion.

Dr Haines paid tribute to her well-organised group of volunteers that staffed 68 booths across Indi on Election Day.

“They covered more than 1040 rostered shifts for the pre-polls over three weeks and across five sites,” she said. “They made more than 2000 metres of Orange bunting, 700 Orange cockatoos,

Dr Haines, who was yesterday among a group of seven crossbenchers calling for a national integrity commission, said she was concerned with an alarming loss of trust in institutions, including federal parliament.

“I will advocate strongly in this place for a robust Federal Integrity Commission,” she said. “Such a commission can help restore the trust that so many Australians have lost in their elected representatives.”

The member for Indi said she heard the calls of every person, family and carer across the nation waiting in frustration for full access to the NDIS.

“This Parliament must work conscientiously to ensure the NDIS lives up to the promise and hope felt by so many when it was created.”