The first speeches of the new parliamentarians continued into the night last night, which included new Queensland senator Corinne Mulholland who gave her first speech while holding her young child, Augie. Augie was born not long before Mulholland hit the campaign trail, and so experienced his first political campaign at just three months old. He will be six before he does it again.

I stand here tonight holding my young son, as you can see, with his bedtime fast approaching. I am praying that Augie and I make it through this speech unscathed, so godspeed!

Augie is here not as a symbol but as a powerful reminder of why I am here. I’m a wife and a mum from the outer suburbs of Queensland. I’ve come to this place to fight for other Queensland families.