As the Federal Member for Calwell and the chair of the Parliamentary Australian Turkish Friendship group I welcome Mehmet Tillim to the Australian Parliament. Mehmet and I have been colleagues in the Australian Labor Party for many years. In addition he is also a local constituent in my electorate of Calwell. I take great pride in welcoming him to the Federal Parliament as he assumes the senate position soon to be vacated by David Feeney. In addition to being ALP colleagues Mehmet and I share a common migrant background. We were both born overseas and came to Australia at a very young age. I came to parliament as the first Greek born women, and Mehmet now as the first Turkish born member of parliament. This is a significant result for both of us, who have both come from migrant, working class families. Mehmet’s appointment to the Senate is a reflection of the our communities integration into the broader Australian society. Participation in the Australian political system is a privilege for us all, and a source of pride for our communities, families, neighbours and friends . I look forward to working with Mehmet on issues that are relevant to people in the northern suburbs.
