On Saturday night I called Labor’s candidate Renee Coffey and conceded Griffith, and congratulated and wished her well. Griffith is a special community and an immense privilege to represent.
We fell short in Griffith, but I still fundamentally believe in the incredible movement we’ve all built together. And while I know a lot of people reading this will be deeply disappointed, my one request to you all is: Don’t give up hope. We can win real change.
While our vote held, the Liberals falling into third saw Liberal preferences flow to Labor. The major party vote combined was too big to overcome this time.
When I was elected, I promised myself I would do everything I could to fight for the people that elected me, and stand up for the principles those people voted for – through thick and thin.
We set out never to waste a day in office and after just three short years there’s a lot to be proud of. Thousands more people will move into good affordable homes because we won $3.5 billion for social housing (the largest single investment in social housing from the federal government in over a decade). Thousands of people in Griffith didn’t go hungry because of our weekly free school breakfasts and meals. We built a massive network of free community events, meals, and natural disaster support. We established the foundations of a movement of renters that has clearly struck fear in the hearts of the banking and property industry.
And we gave people hope.
All of this only happened because of a truly incredible group of people who have given it their all. To all the staff, organisers and volunteers – you should be so bloody proud of what you’ve helped build. And that doesn’t go away just because we’ve lost Griffith.
I’ve met so many amazing, resilient, brave people over these past three years, and am deeply grateful to each and every one of you for everything you’ve given. Everyday people, doing extraordinary things. All fighting to improve the lives of people they’ll never meet – whether it’s families forced to make tough choices every day to make ends meet, the hundreds of thousands left waiting for a public home, or that young person facing a life of unstable renting, massive student debt, and runaway climate change.
Unless Labor changes course, these peoples’ lives will keep getting worse. The planet will continue to warm as more coal and gas mines are opened. Rents and house prices will keep soaring while property investors pocket billions in tax handouts. Billionaires and big corporations will still pay less tax than a nurse, and far too many will be left in insecure housing.
The political establishment relies on setting low expectations. Our job is to give people hope that we don’t just have to accept tinkering around the edges and the status quo. Certainly not in a country as wealthy as Australia.
The country has rejected Dutton’s far right politics, and given the Greens the sole balance of power in the Senate with a record high Senate vote. Don’t forget that there is nothing stopping Labor now working with the Greens to enact genuine, transformative change.
Taking on the major parties, billionaires and big corporations was never going to be easy. There are going to be more setbacks than victories; but the victories will mean something far more as a result. Nothing worthwhile is easy.
The point is not to just win elections. The point is to change peoples’ lives for the better. And I truly believe we can do this. Together.