19th December 2006

Mr O'DONOHUE (Eastern Victoria) -- It is an honour to stand here today. I am proud and humbled to be a Liberal Party representative, together with the Leader of the Opposition in this chamber, Mr Philip Davis, of the rich and diverse new electorate that is the Eastern Victoria Region. But perhaps the greatest privilege and the greatest responsibility for all members, regardless of political persuasion, is to be an active participant in the continuation of the great tradition that is our Victorian and Australian democracy.

This legislature is lucky to have inherited and continue what is perhaps the best democratic model the world has known, the Westminster system of government -- a system of government that has been refined and improved over hundreds of years, a system which we inherited from England without having to go to war, a system which creates a framework for economic opportunity and individual liberty in this great state, and more broadly this great country.

We have a responsibility to ensure these traditions continue so that future generations also enjoy the independence that we are so lucky to have. I am proud of the values of our society. It is not something from which we should resile.

It is easy to forget that countless people have died and continue to die for the right to vote and to enjoy the individual liberty that democracy provides. We only have to look at our immediate region, in Asia and the Pacific, to realise how fragile democracy can be. For that reason I lament the many thousands of people who decide either to not vote or to vote in an informal fashion. One of our responsibilities as members is to teach an appreciation of our system and to behave in a fashion that is worthy of the responsible position we hold.

A key component of a successful democracy is the separation of powers between the Parliament, the executive and the judiciary.

It is critical that the judiciary always remains free and independent from the influence of the government of the day. A feature of the independent judiciary is the security of tenure granted to them which helps to ensure their independence, but the judiciary cannot perform its job effectively without a well-resourced legal system. Individuals must have the capacity to defend themselves against the power of the state if they have been aggrieved or charged with a crime. I have worked as a lawyer in the criminal courts and have seen how the system works and treats people. The presumption of innocence for all, regardless of background or wealth, is critical to the interests of justice being served.

I take this opportunity to thank the many people who have assisted me throughout my life to enable me to be here today, in particular my family, my friends and the Liberal Party. My ancestors arrived in Victoria in 1855 on the Atalanta with the hopes and dreams of all migrants.

In Victoria they found a land of opportunity where they were able to grow and to prosper. My parents, Clare and John O'Donohue, have lived a full life based around family, community and hard work. They have taught me the values of compassion, self-reliance and individual responsibility, but perhaps most importantly they have taught me the value of education, and, through education, the ability to think for oneself and to be able to make a contribution. I thank them for all the love and support they have shown me throughout my life.

I also thank my broader family and my friends, many of whom are here today, for their guidance over both recent and past times and in the long term. I am indeed lucky to have the support of so many loyal, intelligent and good people.

Finally, I thank the Liberal Party. The Liberal Party is a great volunteer organisation. By and large, its many thousands of members do not come from big business or from the top end of town, as some in our community believe.

Like its members of Parliament, the party draws its membership from a wide diversity of backgrounds. It is this diversity of knowledge and life experience that gives it such strength. What draws us together is a belief in a core set of values and ideals. I thank all the party staff, the members of the Eastern Victoria Region council and all the volunteers who, without reward or favour, give their time to support candidates and members of Parliament like me.