March4Justice
Just listening to members in this House from all sides, it is abhorrent what some have had to endure and I acknowledge the courage of the member for Redcliffe and other members in this House—the member for Cooper, the member for Waterford, the member for Gaven, the member for Nanango, myself and others—and I also acknowledge those members who chose not to tell their story publicly. For the public record even I edited and pulled back because of the harsh reality of what many here have had to face—that is, the social media trolling and the further victimisation and disrespect.
We sit back and wonder why women will not come forward and tell their stories. We have all experienced it. This is a watershed moment for Queensland, it is a watershed moment for women, it is a watershed moment for our society. I too am proud to speak in support of this motion. I acknowledge Brittany Higgins and her courage and Grace Tame who has been nothing but an inspiration to women across our nation.
I also acknowledge the men who have stood in solidarity with women and who have come forward and spoken out in support of women, in support for the March 4 Justice and in support for equity and respect. In particular I pay my respects to Mason Black from Brisbane Boys’ College for his speech, ‘The narrative needs to change’. He has provided an important tool to open up a conversation. As a mother of young men it has been inspiring to be able to have that dialogue in the context that they understand. I thank him for his courage.
I also acknowledge across my own community the local services of the Mackay Women's Centre and the North Queensland Women's Legal Service who I had an amazing afternoon with. They had organised their own March 4 Justice in Queensland.
As a conservative LNP woman I would also like to state on the record that I am appalled at what has happened in Canberra. I am appalled at staffers for behaviour that is just hard to believe. It is not acceptable. It is not acceptable as a conservative woman, it is not acceptable as a woman and it is not acceptable as a human being.