Page 302 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 December 2016
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I am fortunate to be joined today by my mother, Susan, and my father, Ross. My mother was raised in the outer Sydney suburb of Asquith by her mother, Jean, a local tram conductor, and her father, Harry, a Sydney tram driver. You might say a passion for light rail has been in my family for a while now. Susan, like her mother, excelled at school, but lacked the financial support to finish her studies. Looking for new opportunities, she moved to Canberra, finding work in the public service as a nurse and later teaching occupational health and safety at CIT. Her ongoing instruction on the dangers faced by workers and the struggles that scarred her loved ones in the great depression have forever shaped my beliefs.
My father, Ross, was born in Canberra, son to Wallace, a career pilot for the Australian Air Force, and Marjorie, a parliamentary typist. Ross, a forever curious man, grew up in Canberra when it was a much smaller town. He graduated from CIT, an institution which has long served as an educational pathway for the working class. For a time in his youth he travelled widely, servicing Australia’s lighthouses for the Maritime Safety Authority. He is to this day a selfless man, always willing to give of himself. He has inspired me through his service and his dedication to local community groups. My parents are ultimately why I stand here today. I thank them both for their love and support.
My brother, David, who is also here today, has always been an incredible source of guidance to me. He has and will always be my biggest believer. I owe him my eternal gratitude. The newest member of the Pettersson family is here as well, David’s fiancée, Rachel. We are blessed to welcome you into our small family, and I want to thank you for your support.
My own story is short. I was born in old Canberra Hospital in May 1991. I attended amazing schools that instilled in me an expectation that hard work and study would lead to achievement. These schools gave me a sound education that would see me pursue studies at the Australian National University, studying politics and mathematics. Before my election to the Assembly, I worked as an industrial officer for the CFMEU, assisting workers to be fairly compensated for their work.
I have been elected to represent all of Yerrabi, but I do feel a sense of responsibility also to be a voice for young people. That voice often goes unheard in our nation’s parliaments. Many times during the election campaign I was approached by young people who were keen to see a young person representing their interests in the Assembly.
My generation faces challenges more pressing than our forebears. We are the first generation in over a century that will be worse off than our parents. We are being expected to pay more and more for our education while our job opportunities are fewer and fewer. In the current job market, there are four times as many job seekers as there are jobs. Gone are the days of permanent full-time work being the norm.
This reality is not unique to our city, or even to Australia; it is a worldwide problem. Advances in technology and global trade have brought great benefits to some, but they have left and will continue to leave many behind. Government must act, and government must prioritise securing local jobs.
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