There was still a long way to go before achieving true equality between women and men, new Labor member for Denison Ella Haddad has told state parliament.
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In her first speech, Ms Haddad said there was still a significant gender pay gap in female dominated areas such as childhood education and cleaning.
“I recall when I returned to work as an adviser after the birth of my first daughter, being told by a senior colleague that jobs in politics were not suitable for young mums and I should go work elsewhere,” Ms Haddad said.
“While the comment wasn’t really a surprise (we all know mothers have long faced discrimination in the workplace), what surprised me was the fact that my partner at the time had an almost identical job, was the same age as me and was father to the same child!
“Nobody seemed to be giving him advice to go and work elsewhere.”
In her speech, Ms Haddad conceded she had not given herself much chance of success when she stood for the seat of Denison.
She paid tribute to former Labor member, Madeleine Ogilvie, who lost her seat.
“I knew I had this unique opportunity to be a candidate for the Labor Party and I would take the opportunity with both hands – apply my values of hard work and dedication and do the very best I could in that role,” she said.
Ms Haddad said she would work hard to advocate for policies to address entrenched disadvantage including literacy, health and homelessness.
“Only when governments invest in prevention not just cure, will we see social outcomes improve, and healthier communities across our beautiful state flourish,” she said.
Her parents were also honoured for teaching her the value of working hard and doing the best she could.
“My parents taught me to always have a healthy questioning of authority. Not a disrespect, but simply to always ask myself – what is fair and right, and what I could do to make a difference when I saw injustice.
“They taught me to recognise we each have the power to influence things for the better.”
Ms Haddad said she would work hard to uphold her values of “integrity, respect, equality and fairness.”
She referred to former Prime Minister Paul Keating and said she would never take for granted her success in winning a seat in parliament.