MONASH MP Mary Aldred has taken her first six months in office in her stride.
Understandable really. She’s effectively working in the family business.
Underscoring the fact that her late father Ken Aldred came into the Australian Parliament, via the first election after the dismissal, in December 1975, there’s a photo on her office sideboard in Canberra of Ms Aldred with Australia’s second-longest serving prime minister John Howard, a contemporary of her father’s, and former Liberal Senator for Victoria Judith Troeth.
No fundamentalist when it comes to getting good advice, however, she also counts Martin Ferguson among her mentors.
And the same goes in parliament where she has made good connections across the political divide and on the cross benches.
“Making connections is so important,” said Ms Aldred as the last sitting week of 2025 came to a close.
“It’s been an incredible first six months, and contrary to what you hear, people on both sides have shown me a lot of warmth and kindness. At the end of the day, we’re all up here for the same reason, representing our communities and trying to do what’s best for Australia.”
Ms Aldred has already been drafted in to serve on a broad number of parliamentary committees, including as Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport, while a small gold pin on her lapel, a replica of the mace, the symbol of the authority of the House, indicates her membership of the Speaker's Panel from August this year – an important relationship role in the parliament.
“All three of those issues; communications, the arts and sport, are so consequential in our local areas. I get a lot of feedback about the lack of mobile connectivity. It’s a two-tiered service, we know that, with high drop-out rates and black spots in country areas. And the arts and sport, so important in country areas of course.
“I was just in Meeniyan the other day for the Open Studio Trail and there’s so much talent around, with the gallery, the Lyrebird Arts Council and all the rest, at Fish Creek too and right through South Gippsland.
“And of course sport is just so important in country areas for bringing people together,” she said, with an old Fish Creek football jumper and an MDU t-shirt displayed at the entrance to her office.
“But it’s not just the fitness, it’s about mental health too and there’s a particular focus on youth.”
One of the best things Ms Aldred says she has done for fitness and building relationships since being elected to parliament has been to join a Tuesday night basketball group while up in Canberra.
“You’d be surprised who turns out for that,” she said.
And what issues has she been working on.
“I’ve spoken three times in parliament today, already,” said Ms Aldred by mid-afternoon last Tuesday.
On Monday, she spoke about the financial challenges facing small business, the lack of mental health support in regional areas, and the pressure on country doctors and local hospitals.
On Tuesday, Ms Aldred also had a stint in the Speaker’s chair, at one stage suspending proceedings for lack of a quorum.
On Wednesday, she marked the passing of Warragul Gazette journalist and Vietnam veteran Keith Anderson, and had another spell in the Speaker’s chair.
And on Thursday, she spoke about the crisis in energy affordability, especially for business, quoting the impact on a major meat-processing business in the area, employing 140 people where power prices have gone up by 22 per cent in the past 12 months. There was also a tribute to another Gippsland journalist Trevor Colvin who worked at the Age before resurrecting the old Traf District News.
“I’ve also taken a big stand on illegal tobacco sales. There was the ramraid at the Longwarry Supermarket in October, but there are dozens of regional towns that have been affected by this. It’s just out of control.”
Ms Aldred said that ‘cost of living’ remained the main concern for most people and after volunteering at Frankies Community Kitchen in Warragul, she was well aware of the important role played by local neighbourhood house food banks and their chronic under-funding.
During her first speech in the parliament, on July 29, 2025, Ms Aldred committed herself to improving the outcomes for veterans, whose lives had been changed forever by their service, when returning to civilian life.
“I been involved in a number of veterans round tables, and together with my Gippsland colleague Darren Chester, I’m keen to see action on the recommendations coming out of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide,” she said.
But, when it’s all said and done, one message continues to ring true.
“Never lose sight of why you are here and that everything is local. Anytime I get up to speak on issues at a national level, I always frame my remarks around what it means locally.
“And I’ll continue to take my mobile office on the road to meet Monash residents in their own hometowns and to go wherever I’m asked around the electorate.”
Ms Aldred wasted no time getting out on the road on Friday, after parliament adjourned for the final time this year, not set to resume until February.
