The air is fresh in Canberra. Both literally and figuratively, as Australia’s new parliament – the 47th since Federation – and the first one led by a Labor government in nearly a decade – has well and truly settled into Parliament House.
“Keep your feet on the ground but enjoy the journey,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told his team as chapter one of his prime ministership officially began back in July.
He then held back tears when addressing his new parliamentary colleagues – which includes about 35 new lower house members and seven independents – all of whom are women.
“Don’t miss the chance. Because you’re not here for that long. None of us will be. And when you’re sitting on the porch thinking about what you did, you can either have a source of pride or a source of regret. No middle path. No middle path. Make it a source of pride,” Albanese said to rapturous, and most importantly, bipartisan applause.
“As I look around our House of Representatives today, it feels like finally it is starting to live up to its name,” Reid MP Sally Sitou, of Western Sydney, said during her maiden speech.
Parliament in 2022 and beyond, thanks in part to an inquiry and subsequently scathing report into the unsafe work practices inside the people’s House led by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, is different.
As the 28 recommendations from the Set the Standard review are implemented, there will be fresh eyes, ears and minds sitting in both chambers of the house
