SHE comes from a party whose policies and platform have long been criticised as racist and xenophobic, but One Nation’s Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell says she’s “ready to break the mould”.
The party founded by controversial right-wing politician Pauline Hanson won its first ever Victorian Parliament seat with Ms Tyrell’s election in the Northern Victoria region.
One Nation policies include denying man-made climate change, banning the sale of water to foreign investors, reducing the refugee intake for five years and having net zero migration except for highly skilled migrants from “culturally cohesive” countries with a “sound level of English for assimilation purposes”.
“I will start off a little differently and ask you all to immediately think of what first comes to mind when you look at me,” Ms Tyrrell said in her maiden speech last month.
“Did you see an Australian, or did you place me into a minority group, such as by age, class, race, gender, culture or religion?
“If you initially placed me as one of the latter, then I am here to prove you otherwise.
“I am an Australian, and a proud one at that.
“Regardless of my minor details, above all else I stand here as an Australian. Just as each and every one of us here today, I am a true-blue Aussie.”
Ms Tyrrell encouraged people to accept differences, “embrace their liberties” and “trust that through our diversity, our communities will find a mass of similarities that strengthen Victorian society”.
“It may come as a shock to many, but I love people – all people,” she said.
“Already individuals in this chamber have stood in front of the media claiming that I am a racist without even giving me the opportunity to introduce myself.
“To them I have this to say: I forgive you. I forgive you for your hasty and ill-informed words. I forgive you for failing to properly represent your constituents and for falling victim to the petty name-calling that unfortunately so many modern-day politicians fall victim to.
“I forgive you, and I will work with you – all of you – to serve northern Victoria and all Victorians to the absolute best of my abilities.”
Ms Tyrrell sought the clarify the issue of immigration, which she said had been used by some to “falsely brand my party racist”.
“When we say our policy is net zero immigration, many everyday Victorians assume that means none at all,” she said.
“No. It simply means that we wish to see that immigration numbers do not exceed the amount of those leaving Victoria.
“It is not about race or culture, it is about numbers. It is a resource policy.
“With homelessness numbers rapidly increasing, schools full and hospitals with no beds, we have a serious issue with our current population.
“It is outright cruel to add more people to the population of those already struggling to get by.
“When working – yes, working – families are forced to live in their car due to no homes being available, we have a serious problem.”
Ms Tyrrell said people were telling her of their struggles to find homes and schools and gain medical care.
“They are telling me the wait lists are extraordinary,” she said. “I cannot let them down by supporting an increase in immigration.
“As much as I would love to see those in other parts of the world end their suffering, I have many in my own constituency suffering through a lot of the same issues those in Third World countries are going through: homelessness, malnourishment, water contamination, poverty, domestic abuse, isolation – the list goes on.”
Ms Tyrell said it wasn’t until she moved to northern Victoria, at Invergordon near Shepparton, that she finally found home.
“To find your village after feeling so out of place for your entire life is pure bliss,” she said.
“From the diverse environments and weather patterns to the wholesome community spirit, northern Victoria was love at first sight for me.
“If your tractor has broken down, then a neighbour will be right around with theirs to help out in no time.
“If there is a single parent doing it tough, then there is a family offering to help out with babysitting while said parent heads off to work.
“If the kids’ sporting team or school needs cash, then the community throws a barbecue and fundraises like crazy.
“If there is a flood, fire or drought, then the whole community pulls together and we get through it as one.”
Veteran Liberal MP’s support
RE-ELECTED Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell welcomed Ms Tyrrell as “another strong local voice in the Upper House”.
“I’m delighted that … Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell will also be joining me, and she’s a local girl here as well in the Goulburn Valley,” Ms Lovell said.
“So it’s fantastic to have another voice from this region that will be strong in the parliament.”
When asked if she had any concerns about the party, which detractors accuse of being rooted in nationalist tendencies, winning its first seat in Victoria, Ms Lovell said she had faith in Ms Tyrrell.
“I know Rikkie-Lee as a person and I don’t place her in that category,” she said.
“I hope that she has the competence to vote in her, you know, under her own conscience, and the way that she believes things should go rather than being directed by a party because she is their only representative in the Victorian Parliament.”
Ms Lovell said she was more concerned about the election of the Animal Justice Party’s Georgie Purcell in Northern Victoria.
“That’s a very hard-left party that doesn’t represent this region in our agricultural industries or our recreational industries here,” Ms Lovell said.
