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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001-2002 Week 1 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 38 ..

MS GALLAGHER (continuing):

my way; to Margaret Gillespie, Katie Borman and Angie Drake, who took that vision and put it on paper and into action; to Sarah Schoonwater, Paul Ingwersen, Justin Larkin and Celia Pollard, who believed in me and persuaded me to put my hand up.

To the ACT ALP, Michael Kerrisk, the campaign director: congratulations on achieving what you set out to do at the beginning of the campaign. To Young Labor Left and all the campaign workers: thank you for your hours of commitment and hard work. To the other Labor candidates who were not successful this time: thank you for your work, which in the end assisted in electing me ahead of themselves. To the voters in Molonglo and the people I met on the campaign trail: thank you for giving me this opportunity to represent you.

I would also like to record my appreciation for the tremendous work and support given to all Labor women candidates by Emily's List, an organisation formed to support progressive Labor women to get elected to Australian parliaments. Formed in 1996, to date Emily's List has supported 60 new women to get elected to parliaments around Australia.

To Amy, Nick and Angie: thank you for agreeing to embark on this journey with me. I would also like to acknowledge the excellent support provided to the new members from the Legislative Assembly staff since our election last month.

Finally, recognition needs to be given to two people who are so important to me, but who regrettably have passed away in recent years. To my dad: thank you for encouraging me in whatever I chose to do and whatever path I took to get there. Even though you have gone, I continue to look for your guidance wherever I go.

To Brett Seaman, who ignited my desire for activist politics, who encouraged me and who taught me to dare to challenge, dream and fight: with you I share my greatest asset and love-our daughter, Abigail. Mr Speaker, I dedicate this speech to their memory.

Mr Speaker, the tasks before a new member of the Assembly are large and varied. We must be responsive to the communities we come from and we must also lead those community debates that have broader repercussions. We must always do this in the interests of democratic accountability and fairness for all.

I have been elected as a member for Molonglo, representing the Australian Labor Party. I have lived in the electorate all my life. I completed my education here and I am now raising my own family here. I went to Duffy Primary School, Melrose High and Stirling College before completing my education with a Bachelor of Arts at ANU. Having lived here for 31 years, I feel that I have learnt a great deal about my local environment and I know that this local knowledge will assist me greatly in my new role as a member of the Legislative Assembly.

I share the concerns of all Canberrans for our community. Accessible health care, quality public education and training for our children and encouraging job opportunities must be a priority for any ACT government. We must also be careful to monitor how our city develops. Urban planning and the incorporation of development with both natural and social environments are pressing issues for my electorate. A Labor government can address these issues. The ACT community has endorsed our policies and by doing so has

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