Six months in: representing Melbourne in our national parliament

It’s been just over six months since I was elected to represent our wonderful community in the Australian Parliament; and what a six months it’s been.

When I first walked into Parliament House as the new Member for Melbourne, I carried with me the hopes, frustrations and determination of our city. Melbourne is a place that pulses with creativity, compassion and ambition. It’s a city that knows what it stands for – fairness, opportunity, and looking out for one another.

Representing those values in Canberra is one of the greatest honours of my life.

From day one, I’ve focused on listening to residents, community leaders, small business owners, students, and local organisations, about what really matters. Housing affordability, climate action, the cost of living, and the future of work are at the top of that list. These aren’t abstract policy debates; they’re the realities shaping the daily lives of people in every corner of our city.

One of the first things I did as your representative was to push for stronger national action on housing. Too many Melburnians are being priced out of the communities they love. I’ve worked closely with the Housing Minister to make sure our voices are heard as the federal government rolls out new investments in social and affordable housing, including through the Housing Australia Future Fund, which will help deliver thousands of new homes across Victoria.

We’ve also taken major steps forward on renewable energy and sustainability, areas where Melbourne leads the way. In Parliament, I’ve spoken about the incredible work happening locally: from start-ups driving clean technology innovation, to community groups helping households make the switch from gas. Our city has the ideas, the talent, and the urgency to help Australia meet its climate commitments and create good, secure jobs in the process.

It’s also been inspiring to see the way Melburnians step up for one another in tough times. Whether it’s volunteers at Second Bite and OzHarvest rescuing good food to feed families in need, or advocates working to support international students, or neighbourhood houses providing a safe space for connection – our community spirit is second to none.

I’ve made it a priority to champion those efforts in Canberra. Just recently, I met with social enterprises like Jigsaw, which is creating meaningful employment pathways for people with disability, and community-led organisations tackling homelessness and food insecurity. These are the people who show what “building our future together” really looks like.

Of course, there’s much more work to do. The cost of living continues to stretch household budgets. That’s why the Albanese Government’s new tax cuts, which will start flowing to all taxpayers from July, are designed to give genuine relief to low- and middle-income earners. At the same time, we’re delivering cheaper medicines, expanding Medicare urgent care clinics, and providing energy bill relief to millions of households.

On the local front, I’ve been working with schools, sports clubs and community groups to make sure Melbourne gets its fair share of investment. We’ve secured funding to improve local sporting facilities and community hubs, and I’m working with local councils to identify more projects that can make a real difference, from safer streets to greener spaces.

More recently, the announcement of Cohealth closures in Fitzroy and Collingwood has emerged as a major issue of concern for our community. Since news of the closures came to light, I have met with Cohealth and other community health providers to get a better understanding of how Cohealth became unviable. I am also in discussions with the Health Minister, the Health Department, the state government and Yarra Council to work out a way forward for the thousands of patients who have grave concerns about the closure.

As I look back on my first six months, I feel proud – but mostly, I feel grateful. Grateful to the people of Melbourne for placing your trust in me. Grateful for the many community members who have shared their ideas and concerns. And grateful for the chance to stand up every day for the place we all call home.

The next few years will bring challenges, no doubt about it. But they will also bring enormous opportunity. Together, we can shape a fairer, more sustainable, more inclusive future for Melbourne and for Australia.

Thank you for the privilege of serving you. My door is always open; whether it’s to raise a local issue, share an idea, or simply have a chat about what’s happening in our city.

Because representing Melbourne isn’t just about what happens in Parliament House, it’s about listening, learning, and working every day to build the future we believe in, together. •