The Maidens

Matthew Groom MP
Liberal Member for Denison
Wednesday 9 June, 2010

Inaugural Speech

Today, in my Inaugural Speech to Parliament, I had the opportunity to share my vision for the future of our state, my values and what I hope to contribute to Tasmania.

I feel enormously proud to have been elected to represent the people of Denison and I hope to repay them through advocating policies that promote Liberal values such as a focused, efficient and effective government; a vibrant and competitive business sector; a strong, connected community and equality and opportunity for all.

Hobart is a truly magnificent city but like so much of Tasmania, the city faces some challenges. Infrastructure investment has been badly neglected, from our port and waterfront precinct, to the services needed for development in our CBD and a lack of integrated transport services and infrastructure for tourism.

I strongly support a proper feasibility study into a possible cable car for Mount Wellington. I believe we must also undertake a comprehensive assessment of our public transport options including options such as light rail, ferry services and bicycles.

I am passionate about renewable energy and climate change policy and there is a strong role for the Tasmanian Government to demonstrate leadership in this area.

I’ve been involved in climate change policy for over 5 years now and I firmly believe that businesses and the wider community are craving reliable, practical information on what they can do in their lives and work to reduce their impact on the environment. We all want to make a positive difference and I believe government should help provide a framework and identify opportunities for people to do so.

In areas such as these we have an opportunity, a chance to affect real, positive change and I look forward to working for the people of Denison and Tasmania widely to help Tasmania to achieve its full potential.

INAUGURAL SPEECH CELEBRATES BRADDON’S STRENGTHS & OPPORTUNITIES
Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP
Greens Braddon spokesperson

Greens Member for Braddon, Paul O’Halloran MP, used his Inaugural Speech to pay homage to his family and previous Greens Members of Parliament, and also to invite all Members of Parliament to walk through the Tarkine rainforest and wilderness area, as part of the Greens’ campaign to have the area declared a National Park.

“It was a great honour to stand in the Tasmanian House of Assembly as an elected Greens representative for Braddon, an electorate where we last had a MP in 1998 prior the disastrous cut to numbers, and deliver my Inaugural speech” Mr O’Halloran said.

“Now that I have been officially ‘blooded’ in the parliamentary speaking stakes, I am looking forward to pursuing long and hard Greens’ policy across a range of my portfolio areas including the crucial areas of Education, Health sand Climate Change.”

“I am also dedicated to seeing our iconic Tarkine wilderness area finally recognised and protected as a National Park, and in the spirit of co-operation I have extended an invitation all my Parliamentary colleagues to join me in taking a walk through this unique region.”

“Once again I applaud all the hard work and efforts of my Braddon campaigners, and thank my family and friends for al of their support throughout the campaign and for their ongoing support for this next stage of my political journey,” Mr O’Halloran said.

Download: Inaugural Speech delivered by Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP, 9 June 2010:
Jun9_P_OHalloran_Inaugural_Speech_ATTACH10.pdf

Michael Ferguson MP
Liberal Member for Bass
Wednesday 9 June, 2010

Inaugural Speech

I began my inaugural speech today by thanking and paying tribute to my predecessor, the Hon Sue Napier, whom for two decades served the people of Bass, the best electorate in Australia.

With its natural beauty, its proud history and its spirited people I have once again been elected to represent Bass and for this I am extraordinarily grateful. From the Cataract Gorge, Trousers Point, Bridport beach, to the Seaport and plenty of other places which must remain a local secret, Bass is truly a wonderful place.

My focus is the future. I’ve developed a vision for the future in which Tasmanians are the happiest people, enjoying the best quality of life in Australia. It’s a high hope. And it’s led me to this moment and makes me look forward.

An inherently important part of this is our children. Children are the most treasured members of our society. I believe that Tasmania can and should aim to be the best sanctuary for children to grow into adulthood.

Recent, well-publicised examples of the abuse that are inflicted on Tasmania children are of course the more extreme cases. However they are inevitably only the tip of the iceberg of less-extreme but nonetheless unacceptable theft of childhood innocence and sexualisation.

The fact is that we have a long way to go before all our children are cared for, protected and prized. We need to move beyond pleasant sounding words regarding our kids and admit that increasing numbers of young people are growing up in a toxic environment.

No government can ever stamp out abuse and neglect entirely. But it must hope for and work toward this.

Secondly, I do not accept that Tasmania should stay at the bottom of the heap by virtue of our small population, our island geography, or spurious arguments that refer to the lifestyle values that only Tasmania can offer.

Tasmanians are the poorest Australians in the nation. In June 2009 average income per capita for Tasmania was $42,534 —the national average was $48,267. We earn the lowest income for our labours; and what we do earn is around 12% less than the national average.

The last generation of political leaders can take responsibility for these appalling statistics. This generation of political leaders will take the blame or take the credit for what trajectory they take in the future. There is a clear case for reform of our economy and there can be no doubt that the many necessary reform measures would be painful for some, unpopular for many and difficult for any government to survive.

Tasmania could do worse than setting ourselves a similar income parity goal and be brave enough to confront the old ideas, the ‘no’ mentality that still exists in this state and the various blockages which hold us back from achieving our potential. So I believe Tasmania should attempt this brave and politically-risky path, and the sooner the better.