Wednesday, 17 June 2026

The SPEAKER: In accordance with the resolution of the house this morning, the time has come for the member for Nepean to make his inaugural speech. I remind members to observe the courtesies of inaugural speeches, and I remind visitors in the galleries that no photography or filming is allowed.

 Anthony MARSH (Nepean) (18:26): It is a profound honour to rise in this place for the first time as the member for Nepean. I begin by thanking the people of Nepean for the trust they have placed in me. To represent a community that has shaped much of my life is both a privilege and a responsibility I do not take lightly. I also acknowledge my predecessors, the Honourable Martin Dixon and Sam Groth, who each served our community with distinction.

My connection to Nepean began long before I ever imagined I might get to represent it in this place. As a young boy I spent countless weekends holidaying with my family in Rye and Blairgowrie. I remember jumping off piers, climbing sand dunes, riding my bike along the dirt roads and spending long summer days at the beach. Like so many Victorians, some of my happiest childhood memories were made on the peninsula. Those childhood holidays eventually became something more, and as a teenager my family moved permanently to the Mornington Peninsula and I attended Dromana secondary college. It was here that I spent my formative years, started my first local business and developed a deep connection to the community that would shape so much of my life. While life has taken me in many different directions through study, work and service, my compass has always returned me here.

Nepean is a remarkable part of Victoria. It is a place of extraordinary natural beauty, but what makes it truly special is not its coastline or its landscapes, it is its people. Ours is a community built on connection. It is found in the volunteers who quietly give their time to others. It is found in the sporting clubs, service organisations and community groups that bring people together. It is found in the small businesses, farmers, tradies, hospitality operators and community leaders who contribute so much to the character of our region. Nepean is a wonderful place to start a life, raise a family and retire. It is a place people dream of visiting and, if they are fortunate enough, a place they get to call home.

It is also a community that faces important challenges. As one of Victoria’s most desirable places to live, we must ensure that people at every stage of life continue to live, work and thrive on the peninsula. At the same time, we must protect the unique character of our region while ensuring future generations have the opportunity to call it home. Balancing growth, opportunity and preservation will be one of the defining challenges of our time. The peninsula has shaped my values, my sense of community, my family and my understanding of service. But as important as the place itself are the people who shaped the person I am today.

Among the many people who shaped me most were my grandparents, Noreen and Ronald Duprey, who we always simply knew as Mumma and Pop. As a child I was fortunate enough to grow up surrounded by their love, encouragement and example. My grandfather Ron rose from humble beginnings to be a senior executive, but that was never how I knew of him. To me he was simply Pop. He was a gentle, curious and deeply caring man who had a remarkable ability to make you feel like the most important person in the room. No matter what was happening in his own life, he was always genuinely interested in yours. My grandmother Noreen was the heart of our extended family. Family was at the centre of everything she did. Together Mumma and Pop showed me what a successful life looked like. It demonstrated that success and family are not competing priorities and that achievement means very little if it comes at the expense of the people you love.

They showed me that success is not measured by titles, wealth or status but by the strength of your character, the love for your family and the positive impact you have on those around you. Although neither of them are here today, their values continue to shape how I approach life, family, business and service. I know they would be proud to see me standing here today but not because I have been elected to this Parliament; I believe they would be proud because of the life I have been fortunate enough to build: a loving family, meaningful work, close relationships and a continued commitment to serving others.

Those same values were reinforced every day by my parents, Sue and Paul, who gave my sister Jess and me a childhood filled with love, encouragement and opportunity. My parents never imposed a ceiling on what I could become. They encouraged me to pursue my interests, take calculated risks and follow opportunities wherever they led. My mum has always been one of the most creative and entrepreneurial people I know. Growing up, she was constantly creating, whether through arts, crafts, paintings or countless projects. She was also the person who first introduced me to computers, long before they became part of everyday life. Looking back, I have no doubt that her example played a significant role in shaping my own entrepreneurial and can-do spirit. When I registered my first business at 14 years old, it was Mum who encouraged me to take the leap and spent countless hours helping me along the way. My father brought a different but equally important influence to my life. Dad is one of the kindest, most optimistic and decent people I know. Through countless camping trips, days on the water and family adventures, he instilled in me a love for the outdoors, a sense of curiosity and an appreciation for the simple things that make life meaningful. One piece of advice he gave me as a young kid has stayed with me: if you find work you love, you will never truly work a day in your life.

Looking back, I realise how fortunate I was. I grew up in a family where love was unconditional, encouragement was abundant and support was never dependent on success or failure. Those lessons would shape every chapter of the life that followed. From a very young age I was obsessed with aviation. I loved aircraft, I loved flying and I loved the idea of building things. As I got older, those interests naturally came together when I finished school and pursued a degree in aerospace engineering. When I graduated, I had opportunities to pursue a traditional engineering career, but instead I found myself drawn towards the Royal Australian Air Force and the opportunity to combine engineering, aviation and service to my country. My time in the RAAF reinforced the values of service, responsibility and contributing to something larger than yourself. Yet after several years I found myself missing something. I missed the freedom to build things, I missed the challenge of creating something from scratch and I missed the excitement that comes from taking risk, backing yourself and seeing an idea become reality.

A bit over a decade ago, with the support of my family, I made the leap from the RAAF to build a drone mapping business. It was a leap into the unknown but one that reflected my growing desire to build something of my own. It was a risky move leaving a great career in defence, but what followed was one of the most exciting and rewarding periods of my professional life. I took risks, I built things and I earned a good living. Yet after time I found myself yearning for something more. I wanted to contribute to something bigger. While building businesses gave me enormous satisfaction, serving the community gave me a deeper sense of connection and purpose. Looking back now, that pattern seems obvious. Throughout my life I have been drawn between two passions: building things and serving people. And whenever I focused on one, I found myself missing the other. It took me many years to realise that the opportunities I found most fulfilling were those that allowed me to do both. The realisation eventually led me towards volunteering, local government and, ultimately, this place.

My journey into local government began in 2020. At the time I was involved in helping a local club navigate a significant challenge, and throughout that experience I was encouraged to stand for local council. To be honest, politics was not something that I had much interest in or had paid much attention to. You could even say I was blissfully ignorant at the time, but what I did care about was my community. I cared about the place where I lived, the people who lived there and the challenges facing our local area. After attending a few meetings and learning more about local government, I felt there was an opportunity to contribute to something different. As a young parent, small business owner and entrepreneur, I felt I brought a perspective that was not always well represented and could make a positive difference in the community that I loved. I was re-elected for a second term, and during my time on council, had the great privilege of serving the Mornington Peninsula shire as mayor on three occasions.

Local government taught me that our community is strongest when decisions are made close to the people and that trust is earned through listening, showing up and doing the work. As rewarding as local government was, those years also taught me an important lesson: many of the biggest challenges facing our community could not be solved by local government alone. When the unexpected opportunity arose to run for this place, I viewed it through that lens. It was not a decision I took lightly given the impact it would have on my life, my family and my business, but it offered something unique. For much of my life, as I said, I had been drawn between building things and serving people, and here was an opportunity to do both: continue serving the community I love while helping build a better Victoria.

Of all the things I am most proud of in my life, none of them are more important than my own family. I am fortunate to share my life with my beautiful wife Natalia. We are very different people in many ways, yet somehow perfectly suited to each other. She keeps me grounded, makes me laugh, keeps me honest and has supported me through every opportunity and challenge life has presented. Natalia is my home, and together we have built a wonderful family. We are blessed with our three remarkable children, who bring joy, perspective and meaning to life – more joy, perspective and meaning to life than I could ever have imagined. Becoming a dad changed me. It gave me a greater appreciation of responsibility, a deeper understanding of sacrifice and a profound sense of purpose. When I think about the example set by Mumma and Pop and by my own parents, I realise how fortunate I was. My hope is that Natalia and I can pass the same gift onto our children.

Becoming a father also changed the way I think about the future. I want my children to inherit a Victoria that is safe, connected and full of opportunity; a Victoria where people are encouraged to dream big, take risks, build things and pursue their ambitions; a Victoria where innovation is embraced, where entrepreneurs and businesses are supported to create, invest and grow, and where ideas are welcomed because they have the power to improve lives; a Victoria that remains a great place to raise a family, start a business and build a career but also to contribute to a community; and a Victoria that equips the next generation not only to adapt to change but to help lead it.

Throughout my life I have been fortunate enough to experience firsthand the opportunities that emerge when people are given the freedom and the confidence to pursue an idea, solve a problem or create something new. Those opportunities should not be reserved for the fortunate few. They should be available to every Victorian willing to work hard, contribute and take responsibility for their own future. At the same time, economic success alone is not enough. The strength of our communities, the quality of our relationships and the willingness we show to care for one another are equally important. The Victoria I hope to leave behind is one that combines both of these things: a Victoria that is prosperous and compassionate, innovative and connected, ambitious and grounded. Most importantly, I hope it remains a place where our children and grandchildren will thrive.

There are many people I would like to acknowledge: first and foremost my wife Natalia, our children, my mum and dad, my sister Jess, and Nat’s parents Ivan and Eva. Public life is never undertaken by one person alone. It asks a great deal of those closest to us, and none of this would have been possible without their love and support. I also acknowledge Lisa and Ken for their friendship and support over many years. I would also like to acknowledge Thomas, who I met on the tennis court. He sparked my initial interest in local government and has become a dear friend. I thank the Leader of the Opposition Jess Wilson for the confidence she placed in me and for her friendship and support throughout the campaign. She was a constant presence in Nepean, leading from the front, and I am proud to be part of the team she leads. I also thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition David Southwick and my parliamentary colleagues for their support during the campaign and the warm welcome I have received ever since stepping foot in this place. I would also like to acknowledge my upper house colleague Dr Renee Heath, who went above and beyond throughout the entire campaign. Before I ever became a candidate several people encouraged me to take on this challenge and backed me when it was little more than an idea. I would like to thank Amanda, Bulent, Emily, Simone, Mitch, Matt, Roger, Peter, Phil, Gael, Anton, Robb, Cathrine, Holly and Geoff for their encouragement and support.

Campaigns are never won by individuals though; they are won by teams. I particularly acknowledge Will, who served as my campaign manager, and Geordie, who played a central role throughout the campaign. Will brought hard work, exceptional skill and relentless dedication, while Geordie brought energy, good humour and an incredible ground game. I also thank Ben, Robbie, Daniel, Liam and everyone else at headquarters who supported our efforts, led by the formidable Alyson. I thank the hundreds of volunteers who contributed in ways large and small, whether doorknocking, making calls, manning booths, putting up signs or simply spreading the word. It is impossible to name everyone, but I would particularly like to acknowledge Martin, Bree, Caitlyn, Rob, Norma, Germaine, Nathan, Marg, Peter, Ben, Zahra, Giulia, Scott and Sam. I thank my SEC, led by Phil and our local branch members, for their support and encouragement. I also want to acknowledge my new team: Barry, Julia, Edward and Marshall. We have hit the ground running, and I know I am in very capable hands.

I would like to acknowledge my peninsula colleagues Zoe McKenzie the federal member for Flinders, Chris Crewther the member for Mornington and Paul Mercurio the member for Hastings. I am grateful for their friendship and support over the many years. I would particularly like to acknowledge Lisa Dixon, who served as my deputy mayor last term with grace and humility, and Paul Pingiaro, who served as my deputy mayor, trusted confidant and loyal wingman until my transition into this place. It was a privilege to serve alongside them. I also acknowledge several of my former council colleagues Andrea, Bruce and Cam, who have been wonderful colleagues and great friends. I also acknowledge Mark Stoermer, the shire CEO, for his integrity and leadership during a period of significant change.

Finally, there are many people who have played an important role in my journey who I have not been able to name today. I am deeply grateful for their support and advice and friendship along the way. This speech bears my name, but it reflects the contributions of many people. I am grateful to all of those who have helped me reach this place.

Throughout my life my compass has always returned me to the Mornington Peninsula. It is the place where I grew up, built businesses, served community and chose to raise my own family. Now that I have the extraordinary privilege of representing that great community in this Parliament, I do so with gratitude, humility and a deep sense of responsibility. The opportunities I have enjoyed in life were not created by me alone; they were made possible by family, community and those that came before me. As the member for Nepean I am deeply honoured by the trust placed in me, and I will do my very best to repay that trust and contribute to a Victoria that is innovative, compassionate, prosperous and full of opportunity, a Victoria that our children and grandchildren will be proud to call home. I thank the house for its indulgence.

Members applauded.