Address to Parliament- STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS - Veterans

I have given more than 1,000 speeches in this place, both in the House of Representatives and in the Federation Chamber, which was previously under a different title: the Main Committee. One of the most difficult speeches I've given in Parliament House was in March 2021 when, as Deputy Prime Minister, I addressed coalition staff with former prime minister Morrison—we did it in the Great Hall. We did it at a difficult time. To look out amongst the huge number of people there was difficult—there were so many staff members there. One of the most difficult words in the English language—it seems to be difficult to say in this place—is 'sorry'. I don't know why; it should be the easiest word. It shouldn't need to be said, certainly when it comes to addressing staff. In a five-minute address that day I said 'sorry' three times, not that I needed to say 'sorry' myself—I had done nothing wrong. I said 'sorry', on behalf of what I represented, to the staff who had felt, at that time, unsupported. I reiterate those remarks now, as I did then. If, in fact, the word 'sorry' needs to be said then I am sorry—deeply, sincerely, earnestly and honestly—if, at any time, I or the party that I represent have not lived up to expectations. Because it is simply not good enough that in 2023 we are talking to a motion which is called Set the Standard. The standard should have been back in 1901; we shouldn't be talking about it in the 21st century. We should all live up to that standard.

It is a huge privilege and honour to be representative of a division and come to this place. People who send us here expect us to be our best selves. Even having to discuss this issue about not providing the right welfare to staff just doesn't equate; it doesn't seem right. But, indeed, we do and, indeed, we need to be better and, indeed, I hope and trust that we will be better, males particularly, males especially, because too many women have been let down.

I know I've employed any number of females over the years. In this position, in this role, particularly for those younger females, I've made it my business to call their parents to say, 'I want you to know that I will treat your daughter as I treat my own daughter, Georgina. I want you to know that, when your daughter is in my employ, she will be looked after, she will be respected and she will have a great opportunity,' because I want young women who come to Parliament House to work for a member or senator to know that this is going to be the opportunity and experience of a lifetime for all the right reasons, for all good and right reasons, and it should be.

This is a wonderful place in which to work whether you're an elected representative or whether you're a staff member of that person. We want more women to be elected representatives. I'm proud of what I was able to achieve in tripling the number of women in my Nationals party when I was the leader of the party, and some fine women too. I was doing the right and good thing by our party to bring about change, to help bring about a better culture in the National Party. I said when I was the leader of the party in March 2021, that same month I addressed the staff in the Great Hall, at our national conference: 'As with all workplaces in our nation, all homes, all places where people gather, we should be respectful. No female, no person, should ever feel unsafe in their workplace. No person should tolerate harassment of any kind or other inappropriate behaviour. We can all do better and we must do better.' It was right then, it's right now, it's now, it's imperative now but it should have been happening since 1901. We shouldn't be discussing this issue now because it just should come as second nature. It's respect. How hard is it to be respectful? How hard is it to keep your hands to yourself? How hard is it? You shouldn't have to think twice before saying something because it should be ingrained in your DNA to make sure that you don't say inappropriate things.

I think we've taken great strides in recent years. The fact that we have more female representation across the parliament and more in decision-making cabinet roles, ministerial roles per se, does lead to more respect within this workplace. I was pleased that both the Prime Minister and opposition leader talked about this yesterday when this motion came before the House.

But I do want to also talk about the Nationals because sometimes our party is wrongly accused of being behind the times on some things and we certainly are not in this regard. I know Julie Kirby from Western Australia is doing some wonderful things as part of our federal women's council. Our federal women's council has been in place since 1959, so we have some good history there. Can we do better as a party? Yes, of course we can. Kay Hull, my predecessor as the member of Riverina, is the federal president. Even in my own branch in Wagga Wagga, Mackenna Powell is doing a great job as the president of the branch, Anna O'Brien as the secretary, Julie Briggs as treasurer, and the current state candidate for Wagga Wagga in the state election is Andrianna Benjamin. They are all fine women, all doing their part so that women have more of a say in regional Australia.

In the Nationals it was largely the initiative of John 'Black Jack' McEwen that a women's conference was formed within federal council. When Doug Anthony took over the federal leadership he decided to increase the direct flow of information between the federal women's council and his office. The late Doug Anthony and 'Black Jack' were fierce political warriors; they truly were. But they also had good intent and they knew the value of having women directly involved in making decisions, in creating a better culture, in making sure that the Nationals were at the forefront of better representing society in general and regional in Australia in particular. Certainly I know when issues such as domestic violence come up before our party at conference, or indeed in the party room, obviously we are all as one, but these issues are very much at the forefront and have been for decades, not just as a recent initiative but for decades.

I look at the Senate leader at the moment, Senator Bridget McKenzie, and our deputy leader, Perin Davey, doing great things to ensure that female representation is a major issue in our party so we can set the standard, set a better standard, set the right standard, set the standard that we should have been doing, not just as Nationals, not just as Country Party people, but as representatives of society, of Australia, of the regions, since Federation. So I commend what has been done. I thank the Deputy Speaker, the member of Newcastle, a good friend of mine, for her involvement, and all who played a part in this process. I know for Nola Marino, the member for Forrest, this is especially close to her heart. I've been very close to Nola since I entered this place in 2010 and I know how concerned she has been that there have been accusations flying left, right and centre about the fact that we need to improve ourselves; indeed, we do. As men in this place, we can, we must, and we will do better.

I will finish as I started. I say sorry if there have been things said and things done. If indeed I've been part of that process—not that I believe I have—I am sorry. We need to do better and we will do better.