Ms BURNEY (Canterbury) (Inaugural Speech) [7.30 p.m.]: Ballumb Ambal Eoragu yindyamarra. Ngadu-yirra bang marang. I pay respect to the Ancient Eora. I say this-good day. The Parliament of New South Wales is the oldest in Australia. It contains its own important tradition and ceremony and is an integral part of the culture of our State. In that context, I observe the significant Aboriginal protocol of acknowledgement of country. We conduct our business on the traditional country of the Gadigal people. The Gadigal people are part of the great Eora nation. The Eora are forged into Australian history as the first nation to experience the brunt of British colonisation or invasion, depending whether you were standing on the shore or on a ship in Botany Bay.

Acknowledgement of country reminds us that we are a place of many stories. It reminds us that there are many maps of Australia. The original map is one of more than 300 nation states-all sovereign, all different and all legitimate. It tells the Aboriginal story. It is a map that should be as well known as the modern map of eight States and Territories. It reminds us that our country is endowed with the wonderful gift of the oldest living culture on earth. Our collective stories weave the blanket that embraces all of us and create the narrative of the whole nation.

Standing here to make this speech this evening, like all first-timers, I am awash with many emotions: in debt and empowered by the generosity of people; reinforced and reminded of the importance of loyalty; tremulous about the responsibility of our role as lawmakers and the effects of those laws; humbled to be afforded the task of representing many thousands of people; grateful, wanting desperately to do a good job and slightly stunned that I am actually in this place. There are some people who cannot be here this evening: my two fathers, Noni Ingram and my dear old step-dad, Fred Stracke, and my best mate, Michael Riley-or, as my kids, nieces and nephews call him, Uncle Mickey. Noni passed away a couple of years ago, Fred passed away during the campaign and Michael is in hospital, too ill to attend. My sister, Kim, and brother, Rodney, could not make it either. But all of them are here in spirit.

I want to share with you this evening a picture of Canterbury through the stories of some of the people who live in this deadly part of Sydney. Now listen, you fellas, in Koori English the word "deadly" means "fantastic; fabulous". So if I ever call you "just too deadly", then look out! I will share a little of my story. I would also like to share some thoughts on what I have learned and believe to be important issues and finally recognise the people, organisations and communities that have played an important role in my life, education and election.

The electorate of Canterbury, like this area of Sydney, is part of the mighty Eora nation. The local group is the Badigal people. It was abundant country: there was the river and the forests. A journey through what is now the electorate of Rockdale to the country of the Thurawhal people gave access to trade and the ocean. Of course, in those days permission was sought to travel through someone's country. Perhaps the member for Rockdale might take note of that. Much of this part of the narrative of Canterbury has, sadly, been lost. But you do not have to look far to find the footprints of the Badigal. The first land grant was given to Reverend Richard Johnston, the Chaplain of the First Fleet.

Urban myth has it that blood flows blue and white in Canterbury. No matter what anyone else says, we love the Doggies-and don't you forget it! Reading through the profiles of that illustrious rugby league team gives me such a sense of what Canterbury is about. Six of the players in first grade were born overseas. Probably the best known, Hazem El Masri, is a young Muslim man born in Lebanon. And can he kick goals! The honourable member for Monaro has reminded me several times of the Canberra Raiders lucky two-point win over the Bulldogs a weekend or two ago-and lucky it was. All I can say to the honourable member is: What goes around comes around. But I must admit that seven on the trot ain't bad.

There are two major geographical features that define the seat: the good old Cooks River and the infamous Canterbury Road. Some of you might say that they are both pretty crook. In fact, much of the river would be unrecognisable to the Badigal and to Reverend Johnston today. But they are ours and we love them. The $4.9 million announced by the Deputy Premier, Dr Andrew Refshauge, prior to the election will do much to improve the Cooks River further. The stunning thing about Canterbury is its people: they are its excitement and its spirit. The single most important consideration and capacity for anyone in a representative position is leadership. One of the keys to leadership is the ability to take off your own shoes and to stand comfortably, intelligently and sensitively in the shoes of others. So, my friends, take off your heels, your flatties, your loafers and, in the case of a number of you blokes-especially those of the country variety-your RMs. Put on the shoes of some of the people of Canterbury and come for a stroll.

Let us start in Beamish Street, Campsie. You will pass stores bearing goods from all over the world. You can buy saris in colours that are so brilliant they do not seem real. Stop to sample Indian sweets or the wonderful cakes from the Greek cake shop. Eat Vietnamese, Chinese or Lebanese but save some room for the best Korean barbecue you will ever eat. Shop for tomorrow and buy fish, vegetables and halal meat. Walk down Anglo Parade and visit the RSL club and the Korean Resource Centre, sitting comfortably side by side. Drive through Croydon Park and pop into the Aussie rules football club for a beer-and none of your flash variety either!

Picnic in Wolli Creek Reserve at Earlwood on food from the most amazing delicatessens I have ever seen. Visit the churches and the Iman Hussein Cultural Centre. Buy the newspaper from the Hurlstone Park newsagency run by Linda and David Tran. Catch a show at the Hurly Burly, as the RSL club is affectionately known. If anyone has ideas about changing the village of Hurlstone Park they should think again. Just ask the owner of the Dakar Market or Patrick and Paul who run the nursery. Suggest it to Con, who has had his shoe repair shop there for 35 years, and you will not get out of town in one piece!

Keep those shoes on and let me introduce you to a few of the people of Canterbury. Their stories sum up the heart and soul of my electorate. Sam and Hejevah Iskander left Tripoli in 1977 after the two-year war in Lebanon. Like most people who decide to leave their home country, it was for reasons of peace and safety and a better life. They are from the Alawi group. They work at Marrickville High School. They and the Iskanda clan are part of the backbone of the Arabic community in our area. They have six children who are all strong in their Islamic faith. I recall eating a meal with Sam and Hajevah. They spoke about their work at Marrickville High and the enormous courage and struggle of the kids from a refugee background at the school. I asked Sam what was important to him about the Labor Party. His response was clear and immediate. It is the party for social justice, for the disadvantaged and for Aboriginal reconciliation. He also said to put a plug in for the Cooks River. I admire the Iskanders. They are as solid as a rock in every way.

Navid and Minaaz Diwan are from Mumbai in India and came to Australia in 1991. They own and operate a small business in Campsie. They have two little girls-Arafah and Suhemah. The Diwans came to Australian because it is a country that is peaceful. They gave me a beautiful scarf to wear this evening, which I have left in my bag. The significance of the colours of the scarf-red, black and yellow-did not escape Navid. He told me yesterday how tough small business can be. They are committed to and feel a part of Canterbury. It is their place. The best political advice I have been given so far came from one of our senior Ashbury branch members. It was, "Girl don't you change." Bill O'Reilly is a man of that ilk. He is a native of South Australia and has lived in Ashbury for eight years. Bill tells me his heritage is mostly Irish. This dignified older man is in our party because he wants to make things better.

One of the great sayings of the Labor party is "rusted on". I just love it. Rusted on-it makes me feel really good just to say it. Two-thirds of the voters in Canterbury are rusted on. Why? Because it was the Labor Party nationally that introduced Medicare-a universal and just health system now under threat from the Coalition. It was Labor that abolished the White Australia policy. It was Labor that introduced the Racial Discrimination Act and the native title policy. It was Labor in New South Wales that introduced a mandatory Aboriginal education policy. It was Labor in New South Wales that was the first government to apologise for the horrendous policy of forcibly removing Aboriginal children from their families. That is why Canterbury is "rusted on" to the Australian Labor Party, and that is why I am too.

The imperative of social justice is keenly felt in Canterbury. The Australian Bureau of Statistics identifies it as one of the poorest electorates in the State. Despite this, it sets an example for the rest of Australia in terms of social acceptance and cultural diversity. So what of my own personal narrative? I take the lesson of standing in the shoes of others from a book many of us would have studied at school-Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mocking Bird". I went to our library to reacquaint myself with this book, to discover it had been out for a very very long time. I am a member of the mighty Wiradjuri Aboriginal nation. Wiradjuri country embraces the Lachlan, Macquarie and Murrumbidgee Rivers. The Wiradjuri, like the Eora, were the first of the inland nations to experience the brutality of British occupation. The mighty Wiradjuri leader, Windradyne, and his warriors' resistance were so fierce that martial law was declared in Bathurst in 1823. It is estimated that two-thirds of the Wiradjuri were dead after that four months of martial law. Many of the most brutal recorded massacres in the colony's history happened to my ancestors. I was born in 1957. For the first ten years of my life, like all indigenous people at that time, I was not a citizen of this country. We existed under the Flora and Fauna Act of New South Wales. [Extension of time agreed to.]

Growing up as an Aboriginal child looking into the mirror of our country was difficult and alienating. Your reflection in the mirror was at best ugly and distorted, and at worst nonexistent. I did not grow up knowing my Aboriginal family. I met my father, Noddy Ingram, in 1984. His first words to me were, "I hope I don't disappoint you." I have now met 10 brothers and sisters. We grew up 40 minutes apart. That was the power of racism and denial in the fifties that was so overbearing. I now have two sets of brothers and sisters. I was raised by my old aunt and uncle, Nina and Billy Laing. They were brother and sister. These old people gave me the ground on which I stand today-the values of honesty, loyalty and respect. Racism was never far away in my youth. I remember being told that we were the closely example to Stone Age man. The life expectancy for a non-Aboriginal woman in Australia is 81 and for an Aboriginal woman it is 66. No-one in this room would agree that that is okay. The core issue is to work with communities to develop the capacity and to focus on economic development so that Aboriginal people can move away from the vicious cycle of poverty and welfare. This can only happen in partnership.

Education is the pillar, the cornerstone of social justice. It is what equals us out whether you are from Canterbury Boys High School, Penrith High School or the Kings School. It is education that can bring about equity-equity of outcomes. Many people have said, "What got you into this place?" It is simple: I could read. Education is also about truthtelling. In 1999 in Wollongong, the Premier pointed out that today's generation is the first generation of young people growing up with the truth. Despite our best efforts, we still have work to do here. Throughout the campaign I was struck by young and old people. They want to be included. The young are our future and the older are our wisdom. We must find better ways to meet their needs and deal them into the decisions. The area of disability services is near and dear to my heart. The responsibility of every government is to look to this group of people as being able to make a valuable contribution, and to provide an opportunity for meaningful lives.

We only have one Earth. It is the source of our wealth and our communities. It is a complex task but we must look after it. Unless we manage our natural resources sustainably, we are simply passing on the problems to our children. The issues are enormous and we will work through them with co-operation between government and the community. I am determined to make the point that Aboriginal people are part of the everyday life of this State and have views just like everyone else. The days of fringe dwelling are over. The imperative of reconciliation is absolutely upon us.

I want to acknowledge Kevin Moss, who joins the distinguished list of those who have represented our electorate, with people like Kevin Stewart and I believe Sir Henry Parkes. There is also the likes of Phil O'Neil, who sat for many years in that other place. I also recognise Maria Acuna and Janice Dufficy who have spent many years working for Kevin Moss and have knocked me into a sort of shape in the last little while. I do not have time to mention the many politicians who have played an important role in the campaign. At the top of the list is Anthony Albanese. I also recognise Leo McLeay, Michael Egan, Kayee Griffin, Ian Macdonald, Meredith Burgmann, Tony Stewart, John Hatzistergos, Carl Scully and many more. But the person from whom I took lessons was, of course, Paul Keating. He said, "You have to be prepared to step up into the big ring and to always assume that you're in charge." I also acknowledge Maurie O'Sullivan and Jack Mundy: good men. I acknowledge Canterbury Councillors Mark Adler and Fadwa Kebbe. Thank you Warren Mundine for your quiet confidence and Col and Melissa Markham who are here this evening: old friends.

I want to mention Emily's List. Emily has linked up Labor women in this place before we even came in. They taught me the value of "me" and "I", not "we" and "us". There are not enough women in our Parliament in any of the parties. Affirmative action is everyone's business. All I can say is the girls are in town, and there is plenty more where we have come from. In everyone's life there are special people who are in it with you for the long haul. Many of you are here this evening-Kaye, Bob, Wendy, Janice, Skelly, Jules, Sue, Fergo and Joan, and Jack, Neita, and many more. Thank you for being part of my journey. The Ingram clan: to my elders, Aunty Silvia and Millie, and to my brother Colin, one of the ten children I spoke of earlier, it would not have been right if you were not here this evening. Thank you for coming.

To the members of the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, keep guiding me. Let me assure you that you don't stop being black just because you walk up a new set of stairs.

I thank DAA and the Tranby mob for being here. I thank Helen Nazerittis, Damien O'Connor and Verity Firth from head office. Many individuals and organisations contributed to the campaign. Every contribution, no matter what size, was valued. Of course, some was spent on the old corflute. Mine became famous, not because it was a good photo but there were so many of them. A running joke was that we should change Canterbury Road to Canterburney Road. I do not know what comedian came up with that one. I thank our wonderful, wonderful campaign team led by Emanual Tsardoulis. I will not do a roll call; I have thanked you all individually. I now count you all as friends. Your generosity has been overwhelming. It was not my campaign; it was really and truly ours. Rick Farley, my partner-not a bad political adviser to have in your back pocket, let me tell you-was on my side. Thank you, Rick. To Willurei and Binni, my babies who have grown into adults: I love you. Finally, to the rainbow people of Canterbury, I have made you two promises. First, that I will work hard and, second, that I will always do my best. You came on this journey. You trusted and we created a little bit of history in Canterbury on 22 March: the first indigenous person into this place and a woman-and not the last of either.

Mr SPEAKER: I extend my personal congratulations to the honourable member for Canterbury on her inaugural speech and wish her well for a long and illustrious career as a member of the Legislative Assembly. I also acknowledge the presence in the gallery of a large number of family members and friends as well as local constituents, and also the presence in the gallery of the member for Grayndler.