I am honoured to have been re-elected to the Senate as a Labor Senator for Tasmania.
The strong vote for Labor in Tasmania demonstrates that Tasmanians embraced Labor’s positive plans for the future—our plans to invest in our schools and hospitals, and to deliver the real optic fibre NBN—over Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberals tax cuts for big business and their plans to destroy Medicare.
I congratulate Ross Hart, Justine Keay and Brian Mitchell on their election as the Members for Bass, Braddon and Lyons respectively and Julie Collins on her re-election as the Member for Franklin.
Jane Austin ran a strong campaign, and it was disappointing not to see her elected as she would have made an excellent Member for Denison. Jane has been an outstanding contributor to her local community, and a strong advocate for mental health.
As Labor’s Duty Senator for Franklin, it has been a privilege to work with Julie. The more than five percent swing towards her shows that she is recognised as a hard-working Member and a strong voice for her electorate.
Furthermore, I congratulate Julie Collins, Senator Carol Brown and Senator Helen Polley—three very talented members of the Federal Labor caucus—on their appointment to the Shadow Ministry.
I also congratulate Senator Anne Urquhart on her re-election by the Labor caucus as Deputy Opposition Whip in the Senate. I look forward to continuing to work with her in the Labor Senate Whip team.
Returning five Labor senators was a strong result for the Labor team.
I thank John Short for all the work he has done supporting the Labor team. I know John has been a passionate advocate for workers’ rights and campaigner against family violence. Although he was unsuccessful on this occasion, when he has the chance to he will make a strong contribution to the Senate.
As a re-elected Senator for Tasmania, I will continue to advocate for the issues that I am passionate about—more research funding for rare cancers including brain cancer, a fair deal for Australia’s arts sector especially independent artists, a real optic-fibre National Broadband Network for Australian homes and businesses and better protection for Australia’s children from abuse and neglect.
I also look forward to working together with an expanded Tasmanian Federal Labor team to deliver results for Tasmania, as Tasmania’s Federal Labor caucus has done so many times in the past.
I believe that when you wear the team colours you play for the team. That is why I worked as part of the Labor team during the election to maximise our vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
SENATOR CATRYNA BILYK DEPUTY OPPOSITION WHIP IN THE SENATE SENATOR FOR TASMANIA
