Newbies set pace on truth, trust, diversity and disasters

Newly elected members of parliament want more to be done against authoritarianism, sexism and racism, while also preparing for future natural disasters and reducing the impact of climate change.

Labor' MP Sally Sitou. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Newly elected members of parliament want more to be done against authoritarianism, sexism and racism, while also preparing for future natural disasters and reducing the impact of climate change.

Labor member for the inner-Sydney seat of Reid Sally Sitou and West Australian Labor MP for Swan Zaneta Mascarenhas gave their first speeches in the lower house along with the Liberal member for Melbourne’s Casey, Aaron Violi, and the independent for Goldstein, Zoe Daniel.

Ms Daniel said she was deeply concerned that Australia’s democracy was under threat from the “fragmentation of truth”, saying authoritarianism and populism had been allowed to flourish in an increasingly volatile world.

She also revealed an expanded policy platform of aged-care reform, the NDIS, humane refugee policies, tax reform and affordable housing as key priorities she would pursue. “Along with my deep concerns about lack of action on climate sit my observations about the fragmentation of truth and trust and the danger that poses to our democracy – and the future of our communities and our children,” she said.

“Without trust in policy and leadership, without integrity and good governance, we cannot function as a society. When facts become a matter of opinion, we have a problem. It is our responsibility … to rebuild that trust.”

Ms Sitou, who has Chinese heritage, said diversity in elected officials was essential in helping to strengthen Australian democracy, and that racism “corrodes” the community. “I marvel at how much has changed for our family in just one generation,” she said. “And that is the power of the Australian story – because stories like mine are only possible in a country like Australia.”

Ms Sitou also attacked the former government for letting the university and TAFE sector “languish”, saying it had “actively undermined” territory education.

Kalgoorlie-born Ms Mascarenhas wore a traditional Indian sari during her speech where she said she hoped the case for cultural change and stopping sexism could be “fast-tracked”.

“It should not matter whether your workplace is a bar or a mine or parliaments across Australia – we need to clean up our act,” she said. “To the women and men who participated in the Set the Standard (Kate Jenkins) report, thank you for speaking up. It will make a difference.

“To the 47th parliament, we have a choice to raise the bar and create new workplace culture … the people of Swan expect this, the people of Australia expect this.”

Mr Violi said he barely escaped with his life from the Black Saturday bushfires, and better preparedness for natural disasters was vital, along with better telecommunications across the country.