Ali France spoke about a lot of the people who helped her in life, personally, professionally and politically, but it is obvious a love for her sons is her true guiding force. She spoke of Zac, and of Henry, who died last year and how her grief was the undercurrent for her third campaign to unseat Peter Dutton.

The 2025 campaign was obviously my best,
And that is quite a bizarre thing because behind the curtain I was grieving and desperately wanting to hold my son Henry. 
He passed on February 20 2024, after an 18 month battle with Leukemia.
The week before, he was able to come home for a couple of nights.
He asked to sleep in my bed, next to his mum, like he did for years when he was little.
I watched him breath all night, in awe of him, his courage and his ability to smile every day despite unbelievable pain and the never-ending hospital stays and treatment.
I am so grateful for those hours.
He told me many times, that this election was my time.
He was convinced I would win and said a number of times, ‘don’t make me the excuse for you not doing important things’.
His words, his courage, were with me every day of the campaign.
Henry was instrumental in getting me to this place. 

When asked ahead of the campaign, I said I didn’t think that France would be able to win – that she had come close and Dutton could never bank on a safe seat, but that he had always managed to pull it off in his local community. I underestimated not just France, but the people of Dickson and their desire for change. It’s a good reminder that all politics is local, and there is only so much people will take.