Kristy McBain gets down to work for Eden-Monaro

Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese with Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain at Australia Rock in Narooma. Photo: Alex Rea.

Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese was on the NSW South Coast this week to wish newly elected Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain well on her first day in the job.

Almost three weeks after the by-election in the federal seat of Eden-Monaro, Ms McBain was officially declared elected as the new member.

Speaking in Narooma on Tuesday, 21 July, Mr Albanese said the by-election was tough and that Labor started out as underdog.

“Kristy McBain showed tenacity, courage and, importantly, a capacity to articulate the views and aspirations of the people of Eden-Monaro, and to win their support in what was a once-in-a-century by-election during a once-in-a-century pandemic,” he said.

“The election result is a credit to Kristy, but I also want to thank all those volunteers in the Labor Party, in the trade union movement and just in the community, supporters of Kristy McBain, particularly her family and friends, who came out in force during this by-election campaign.

“This community needs a strong advocate. They suffered from drought, from bushfires, and then, of course, the [COVID-19] pandemic, and in Kristy McBain they have someone who will take up these issues in the national parliament.”

Ms McBain said it was an honour and privilege to be the new Member for Eden-Monaro.

“I am absolutely committed to rolling up my sleeves and getting down to some hard work,” she said.

Kristy McBain, the new Member for Eden-Monaro, is getting on with the job of serving the local community. Photo: Alex Rea.

“Right now, we are hurting across Eden-Monaro. We’ve got people who are rightly anxious about their elderly relatives. They’re anxious about their kids’ futures and they’re anxious about job security. I’m here to work for them to make sure their concerns are relayed to parliament, that they are relayed to the federal Labor Party, and that they are most concerned about relaying that information to the government.

“I am here to be a strong advocate for my community. I will work for them tirelessly until the next election and then hopefully after that. I’m committed here for the long-term. I’m raising my family here, we run a business here and it’s a place where I want my kids to be able to grow up and have their careers and their families into the future.

“I look forward to working for every single person in Eden-Monaro, regardless of how they voted. I am here for the long-term for everybody.”

Ms McBain also paid tribute to her predecessor.

“I want to thank Mike Kelly for his service to the community,” she said. “I have very big shoes to fill.”