First Speech

Zoe made several key points:

1. Acknowledgment of First Peoples: respect for Indigenous peoples and support of a First Nations voice in the Constitution for self-determination.

2. Urgent Climate Action: highlights the pressing need for climate action and a just transition to renewable energy. She calls for ambitious climate policies, enshrining carbon emission targets in law, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier.

3. Integrity and Trust: emphasises the importance of rebuilding trust in leadership, addressing the fragmentation of truth, and promoting good governance and transparency.

4. Personal Experiences: shared her experiences as a journalist covering climate-related disasters globally, which have underscored the urgency of taking action to save the planet.

5. Community and Diversity: acknowledges the challenges faced by the Goldstein community, including housing stress, small businesses, and mental health issues, but also highlights the community’s strength and resilience.

6. Independent Representation: recognises the role of independent representatives in the parliament and their ability to work collaboratively to bring about positive change.

7. Empowerment of Women and Girls: calls for the safety, empowerment, and economic inclusion of women and girls, emphasising the need for affordable childcare and valuing the care economy.

8. Seizing the Opportunity to Lead: encourages Australia to lead in innovation and emphasises the responsibility of the parliament to provide policy, stability, and hope for the future.

Zoe highlighted the need for urgent climate action, integrity in leadership, empowerment of women, and collaboration to address the challenges faced by communities and the nation as a whole.