Page 2279 - Week 07 - Thursday, 27 August 2020
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She has served as Assistant Speaker in the Assembly and as Greens spokesperson for planning, territory and municipal services, business and economic development, housing, city services, community services and so much more. She has been on eight different estimates committees, for which we can only offer our sympathy, and five different standing committees, two of them as chair and one as deputy chair.
There are so many things to say about Caroline, but time allows for only a few. I think we all know how much she understands the realities of the climate crisis and ecological destruction. She has spoken today about feeling overwhelmed by the lack of action worldwide to address the climate emergency, a feeling that many others share. Yet in the face of the climate crisis Caroline has never wavered in her commitment to make a difference. We are immensely proud of the role she has played in the Assembly in helping to spearhead our world-leading legislation on renewable electricity and emissions reduction.
She understands that, although there is an immense need to change business as usual on our planet, we have to fight bit by bit, making progress step by step. The world is generally not changed in a day. She understands that a functioning modern planning system must account for climate readiness and that it should serve Canberra residents. Caroline has consistently been the member of the Assembly who has pointed out the flaws in the planning system, as well as the solutions needed to fix it.
Caroline understands the importance of reaching decisions in step with our community and the best evidence before us. She has worked tirelessly to improve planning consultation processes here in the territory. Time and again she has lobbied on behalf of the community for local issues such as Curtin shops, Cooleman Court, Red Hill and Downer shops.
She understands the importance of women’s rights. Many of us here today will never forget the day that Caroline stood in this place and bravely spoke to her personal experiences of sexual assault and how this informs her empathy and appreciation for victims of these terrible crimes. Caroline took this experience and delivered real outcomes, including laws against intimate images abuse, or revenge porn. I know that consent stands on her list, and it is something that we will continue to fight for in this place.
Caroline understands that successful, plentiful public, community and social housing benefits everyone. Thanks to her advocacy we have more accessible and affordable housing options than there were four years ago and, importantly, targets for public, community and affordable land release.
In her time in this place Caroline has played an important role as a crossbencher. Holding governments and departments to account requires real resilience and real integrity. She has achieved this while always playing the ball, not the person. Despite facing a regular barrage from others in this place, Caroline has never resorted to petty politics and her continuing integrity has been a shining light in this place.
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