I’ve always had a singular passion for Australia.  As I said in my first speech in the Parliament, I simply love our sunburnt country, its ancient landscapes, its exhilarating reaches of sand and sea, and I value its traditions, none more so than the freedom to express an opinion.

In the past I’ve protested, sung, marched, written, organised and campaigned on those things I simply believed were important, not just to me but to the life of the nation.

By 2004 I’d reached a point in my life where I wanted to take the next step into formal politics and, if the opportunity arose, to work as a parliamentarian. I brought into the Parliament a belief in equality of treatment and opportunity and that one of the most important things government can do is to ensure all people have the means to a decent livelihood. It’s an important forum to work for the cause of peace however remote its prospects sometimes seem, and as well, to continue my lifelong desire to look after our environment.

Ten Canoes directed by Rolf de Heer (2006) is a favourite movie and I have many favourite books including Cloudstreet by Tim Winton, Remembering Babylon by David Malouf and March by Geraldine Brooks on my list - all terrific Australian writers.

It was an incredible thrill, a real privilege and a bit nerve wracking, though I’m not prone to nerves having spent a lot of time on the stage. I felt privileged to be representing the people of Kingsford Smith in the Australian parliament. Members of my family were watching from the gallery and in my mind were thoughts of my ancestors John Garrett, my great-great-great grandfather, and Tom Garrett, his son, who had both served in the New South Wales parliament over a period of 30 years in the second half of the 19th century.

My mother’s dad had a particularly strongly influence on me. Although he was seriously wounded in the Great War, as a young boy I never heard him complain of his ailments. He was a long-serving Rotarian and member of the RSL, who in his spare time hammered away on a special typewriter translating books into Braille for the blind, a habit he maintained into his 80s. As is often the case, it was only after he died that I came to appreciate the way he lived and to take inspiration from his example.

Looking after our environment and heritage is fundamental to our national well being. We need healthy, productive landscapes to ensure our future. The places we hold dear that help define our national identity, like the Great Barrier Reef are under serious threat from our activities, including dangerous climate change. So I hope we can do what is necessary to ensure a healthy environment is in place for the future. In terms of our regional and global role, that we can continue to be a force for peace and sustainable development, a good neighbour whose national and regional interest is served by working co-operatively in our neighbourhood and beyond.

For a start the coastline is spectacular. Kingsford Smith is graced with a series of stunning beaches, framed by headlands interspersed with ocean pools, including the famous Wylie Baths.  It’s a very diverse electorate, with a significant Aboriginal population in La Perouse and surrounds and it’s the site of a number of significant institutions, including the Sydney Children’s Hospital, the Prince of Wales Hospital, the University of New South Wales, Royal Randwick Racecourse and the National Institute of Dramatic Art. So, there’s no one best thing about my electorate – I think it’s all pretty special.

In the AFL it’s Essendon, in the NRL South Sydney, rugby union it’s Randwick’s Galloping Greens, and in basketball the Opals.

At school, as at home and in life, I learnt to always try and do my best, never give in and remind myself regularly to be thankful for the opportunities I have and the country that I live in.