Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (09:56): As this term of Parliament comes to an end, there has been a lot of reflection. I have worked hard to show what just one person can do for animals, people and the planet, fighting for wildlife, challenging powerful industries, pushing for better animal protection laws and putting on the parliamentary record issues that might have otherwise gone unheard. But this term has also been incredibly challenging. The same day my heart was broken by the government’s decision to continue duck shooting I was photoshopped and became a global news story. I endured relentless sexist abuse, a new relationship attracted far too much attention and I navigated a high-risk pregnancy under relentless attacks from anti-choice activists. I returned to work just weeks after giving birth, navigating motherhood while juggling the life of a crossbencher with a region that is half the state, 25 animals, my partner’s beautiful eight-year-old daughter and chairing a standing committee. As Ms Shing bravely shared about herself last night, I too learned I was neurodivergent, and my AuDHD diagnosis finally gave me a language to understand myself and why life in the public eye has sometimes been so incredibly challenging. There have been broken promises, legislation that should have passed, and campaigns where we did not get the outcome that we wanted, but ultimately representing the Animal Justice Party and Northern Victoria has been an honour. I am incredibly grateful to my team – Mitch, Caitie, Ethan, Isla, Sam and Amy – who are absolutely brilliant. We have achieved so much together, but there is still so much more to do, and we will be fighting to be back in here to make it happen.