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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 1 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 28 ..

MS MacDONALD (continuing):

troubles was the Jews, the unionists, the intellectually disabled, and the Slavs. In other words, those who were different.

While I do not believe that the people of this country would give up their democracy, there has been too much "us and them" behaviour. As I said earlier, my grandparents contributed a great deal to this country. They were not unique, and there have been countless immigrants to this country who contributed pieces to the puzzle of our Australian society, our Australian community. I will always speak against the policy of xenophobia, so that this rich tapestry of Australian life can continue to flourish.

I ask the indulgence of the Assembly to allow me to talk a little about my background and my family. I grew up in Sydney and believe that I had a fortunate childhood. My parents instilled in me the values that later in life led me naturally to join the Labor Party. Dad was always a strong Labor man, although not a member of the party. My mother was a swinging voter but always gave her preference to the Labor Party. My earliest political discussion was in first grade at Coogee South Public School. The debate was about whom to vote for in the 1974 federal election. Of course, I was advocating Gough Whitlam.

While Labor was always the political flavour of our household, there was no time when I and my older brother, David, were not encouraged to think about politics, the way we would vote, and why. The principles of equity, access to quality education and a safety net for society were held dear in my family.

It has always been my opinion that I had the best dad in the world. Allan Hutchison MacDonald was a man who was always approachable, was incredibly well read on a huge range of topics, was never overbearing, and had a never-ending fountain of patience. With the wife and daughter he had, he often needed that patience, too, I might add.

As a girl growing up, I felt my father knew just about everything, and, when I asked dad a question that he could not answer, he would always find out the answer. Dad loved his photography and his jazz, two areas that I also now enjoy as an adult. He also enjoyed a good discussion about what was going on in the politics of the day.

My father died when I was sixteen. It will always be my great regret that I did not get to have a conversation with dad as an adult, and that he will never be able to meet my fiancé, Brendan, or my sister-in-law, Tania. Further, I regret that he will never know his grandson, Jacob, or any children that I am fortunate enough to have. However, I am sure that he is here in spirit with me today; so, dad, I hope that I have made you proud and that I will continue to do so.

There were many steps that led me to where I am today. I was involved with both the student representative council at teachers college and then the University of Sydney union. My thanks go to my good friends Patrick Low and Tony Burke, who had many conversations with me in which I asked many questions about the way the Labor Party operated. They both showed me that the Labor Party had the underlying principles that I believe in.

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