Katelin McInerney with proud parents Clare and Paul and partner Brian after she gave her maiden speech as the State Member for Kiama. Photo: Supplied.
When her son came into the world in the wake of the Black Summer bushfires and floods that devastated the South Coast, Katelin McInerney wondered just what the future would hold for him.
In those first sleep-deprived years watching him grow she asked herself what kind of world was he growing up in and would he have the same opportunities that she had as a youngster growing up in Kiama.
Just over five years later, Katelin stood in State Parliament on Wednesday 12 November to deliver her maiden speech as the 13th member for Kiama, determined to do her part in ensuring the world remained a better place for not just her son but for her community.
“William, when you came into our lives suddenly every decision I made was about how I could work to make the world a better place for you and your pals,” she told a gallery packed with family and friends and her new parliamentary colleagues.
“I know you are already starting to understand why mum is away at so many meetings and that this work is so much bigger than any one of us.
“You are the reason I stood, and why my community can count on me as a strong local voice fighting for our fair share, building a more equitable community, championing sustainable growth, and ensuring everyone has a secure home and a liveable future.”
Katelin grew up in Kiama, spending her days at the beach, playing sport and attending public primary and high schools before attending the University of Wollongong.
“My parents – a high school deputy principal and a journalist – could afford to buy a home and raise their family in relative comfort,” she said in her speech.
“Would Will and his mates have those same opportunities: a secure, affordable home; teachers who could stay in the profession they loved; and a well-resourced public health system if he needed it?”
Katelin didn’t believe the answer was yes under the Coalition government of the day.
“So when a dedicated crew of Kiama Labor members asked me whether I might consider running for the seat of Kiama, the answer seemed clear,” she said.
“As a lifelong optimist and a believer in the need to be inside the tent if you are serious about making change, I put my hand up to run in 2023.”
It’s history now that Katelin lost that tilt at State Parliament, narrowly missing out to the incumbent Gareth Ward, who was re-elected despite sexual assault charges hanging over his head.
Katelin gets a hug and congratulations from Keira MP and friend Ryan Park. Photo: Supplied.
However, she turned the tables in September this year, reclaiming the seat for the Labor Party, which had held it from when it was created in 1981 until Mr Ward, then a Liberal Party member, was first elected in 2011.
Mr Ward has since been found guilty of the offences and is serving an almost six-year jail sentence.
Dozens of Katelin’s family and friends, as well as her partner and “best mate” Brian, were in parliament to hear her maiden speech. She paid tribute to them, as well as her political colleagues and community in her speech.
“I believe a party of government should focus on delivering essential services, on fairness, on equity and on making people’s lives better, and I will work every day in this role so that no-one in my community or this state is left behind,” she said.
“This belief was instilled in me by my family – especially my mum and dad, Paul and Clare. Thank you will never be enough for the love and support my parents have given me and continue to give every day. I never doubted I could, because you believed in me so fully. I would not be here today without you.
“I stand here as the 13th member for Kiama, elected on the 13th of September from the 13th position on the ballot paper.
“I am proud to stand here as the first woman to hold the seat. That is not because our region is short of strong female leaders – quite the opposite.
“Our part of the world has a proud history of women leading at local council level and at Federal Parliament. State Government was the missing tier, and I am deeply honoured to be the one my community voted in to fulfil that role.”
Katelin made special mention of Deputy Premier Prue Car, currently on leave from parliament after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
“To Deputy Premier Prue Car, thank you for believing in me from the get-go and for unknowingly gifting us our campaign slogan, which has since become my touchstone: You’ve got this, now don’t eff it up. Words to live by.”
