STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms MASCARENHAS (Swan) (13:39): Australians should ask themselves a simple question: what kind of country do we want to be? A kid called Anthony grew up in social housing with his mum, Maryanne, a single mother living with a profound disability. She didn't have wealth.

She didn't have power. But she had kindness. She had generosity.

She did what millions of Australian mums do every day. She gave her child the best shot that she could. And you know what?

That child became Prime Minister of Australia. How bloody awesome is Australia? What's interesting is that Pauline Hanson's folks ran a milk bar in Brisbane and raised seven kids.

These are two real Australian stories of hard work and perseverance. That's why Hanson's attack on Maryanne is bigger than an attack on our prime minister's mum. It's an attack on the whole idea of what Australia is, which is that, no matter where you come from, what your parents have, you can make it in this country.

Both of these families raised kids who ended up in parliament. That's something that we should be proud of. It's a testament to the kind of Australia that we can be and we should be, where hard work, not wealth, can get you elected and maybe even make you Prime Minister.