Speeches

Few women have had as great an impact on the Australian labour movement than Barbara Murphy, AO.

Barbara was a much-loved and highly effective educator, working in Sydney schools for more than 25 years before joining the NSW Teachers Federation, where she served as both senior vice-president and deputy president.

That this House:

1. Notes the extraordinary work of Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia (RDVSA) which provides specialist sexual assault and domestic violence trauma counselling services for the national 1800 RESPECT line.

Residents across the inner west – and indeed across Australia – have started receiving their postal surveys on marriage equality.

That this House:

1. Notes recent reports that Transport for NSW was asked by State Transit officials to review Region 6 bus timetables a full two years before taking action.

Communities along the proposed WestConnex route continue to be ignored when it comes to the basic mitigation measures that might make their lives more bearable. The Sydney Motorway Corporation has confirmed it will build a solid five-metre noise wall between the Wattle Street construction site and adjacent houses on Walker Avenue, Haberfield. 

That this House:

1. Notes there are concerns that the Government plans to catch communities unaware along the Sydenham to Bankstown railway line with an extra 25,000 more units in addition to the 35,000 units included in its draft plans for mass rezoning.

That this House:

1. Notes the Commonwealth Government has committed to a national postal survey on marriage equality, risking the well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, and Questioning (LGBTIQ) communities across Australia.

Before I delve into the detail of the issues, I need to disclose that I live with my husband and son within the Dulwich Hill Precinct. These plans potentially affect half of the Summer Hill electorate and I stand with you as both a Member of Parliament and an affected resident.

Like many in this House, I support a woman’s right to make choices about their own reproductive health. The Government blocked me from giving this speech in Parliament last week.

Given the events of this week, this matter of public importance raised by the member for Sydney is particularly timely. It is appropriate that this House again put on the record its support for marriage equality.