Senator Charlotte Walker, the youngest member of the Labor class of 2025, turned heads with her speechmaking debut in the Senate. She did so with fearless personal testimony and spotlighting essential truths affecting the people of South Australia. Walker marked her 21st birthday by winning her seat in the May federal election. She won an incredible <5> third place on Labor’s South Australian Senate ticket, which is nearly impossible to win. As one of her party’s left-faction members, she fearlessly led efforts on climate and housing. She made housing affordability, increasing the cost of living, and climate change her priorities.
During her impassioned speech, Walker not only addressed pressing state issues but reflected on her own experiences with bullying and mental health, which she described as deeply personal. She spent her childhood in Yankalilla and Normanville on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula. She got candid about how her family’s difficult financial circumstances influenced her childhood and later life.
Mum worked three jobs and made many sacrifices for my brother and me. She just barely managed, paying our private school tuition bills and never buying a single new dress. Walker recounted. “We rarely took holidays, and since starting this job, I think I’ve probably flown on more planes than our whole family has combined during my life.”
A Call to Address Domestic Violence
Walker hinted at the discussion that needs to occur urgently, considering South Australia’s recent domestic violence royal commission. She noted that domestic violence is a “profound disgrace in our society.” She implored all those in the audience to participate in dialogues whenever possible in order to combat this widespread injustice.
Walker also looked back on the outcomes of the royal commission, and gave a shout out to former Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja. Despoja’s unswerving dedication to addressing domestic violence won Walker over. “I note that [Ms Stott Despoja] talks about the importance of looking at both the experience of children and the need to change community conversations,” Walker said.
Furman echoed her sentiments with a powerful testimony she gave on the impact of children exposed to violence and misogyny. “How do we better recognize the experience of kids exposed to violence, and how do we change those conversations in the pubs and sports clubs?” Walker asked, highlighting the need for a collective effort to address these issues.
Sharing Personal Struggles
In a very real and vulnerable way, Walker addressed her pains from being bullied throughout her academic career. The harassment was brutal enough that it pushed her out of her local public school. “The bullying was enough to force me out of my local public school,” she stated.
Walker has become increasingly more vocal about her battle with mental health, her depressions and other such things. She just got used to the shame preventing her from talking about her depression. “I don’t tell people about my depression because of the deep shame I feel about it and because of the perception of being ‘damaged goods’,” she explained. She expressed a desire to use her time in parliament to shed light on how childhood experiences can impact mental health in adulthood.
As a member of parliament, I will continue to put a spotlight on the longstanding impact of childhood trauma, such as mine, on adult mental health. It’s important to me to better understand how to involve and address this community in meaningful ways. Walker asserted.
Environmental Concerns
Walker didn’t stop there. She focused on improving South Australia’s social fabric in addition to the environmental challenges. His comments underscored the dire impacts of climate change facing the area. She cited the deadly recent algal bloom that has devastated marine life washed ashore along the state’s beaches. “Right now, South Australians are walking on beaches and seeing dead fish, rays and octopuses from a climate change induced algal bloom,” she noted.
Walker underscored the long-term consequences of today’s environmental decisions on future generations. “In 2050 I won’t be in my late 90s, like some who want to abandon net zero; my friends and I will be in our 40s, and we demand an inhabitable planet,” she declared.
