New Liberal MP thanks ousted party member for ‘courage’ in first speech

Ryan, a paediatric neurologist, spoke about her upbringing in Melbourne’s well-heeled eastern suburbs, and her career in the medical profession.

“But the greatest challenge of our generation is climate change,” she told the House of Representatives.

The Climate 200-backed independent, who campaigned on a more ambitious emissions reduction plan, said strong leadership was crucial for an effective transition.

“In recent years the people of Australians have lost faith in our political system,” she said. “We stand on the precipice of a great opportunity.”

Ryan paid tribute to the Climate 200 movement as a funding powerhouse that gave an array of independent candidates the clout that led to their broad electoral success.

She said Australian democracy had dimmed in recent years before a “candle was lit” in the form of the Indi independents, Cathy McGowan, and now Helen Haines.

Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender congratulates Member for Kooyong Monique Ryan after she delivered her first speech in the House of Representatives on Thursday.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

“By 2021 a people-powered coalition of the willing and the passionate had come to together listen to the voices of our electorates,” she said. “We built it, and the people came.”

Ryan assured her constituents she will remain independent.

“I’m honoured to serve as your representative, and I will never take that responsibility for granted,” she said. “To the people of the community, when our children ask what we do for our country, we will be proud to answer that we were the change that we wanted to see, and in doing so we changed Australian history.”

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