FLAGSTONE woman Joanna Lindgren never saw herself becoming a politician.
The great-niece of Australia’s first indigenous parliamentarian Neville Bonner says she is first and foremost a Queenslander, honoured to have been given a voice for change.
Ms Lindgren became the Liberal Party’s Queensland Senator in May this year, following the resignation of Brett Mason.
She was formally endorsed on May 21, defeating former Australian Medical Association president Bill Glasson in a party ballot.
She flew down to Canberra the following week to become Australia’s 574th senator.
On August 11, she delivered her maiden speech and said her work as a senator could now begin.
“I think for me I really wanted to tell a story about who I was and what I believed in and how I best fit in the senate and how I could contribute to Australia but also support Queenslanders,” she said.
“That’s what I’m doing as an LNP senator for Queensland.”
As a former teacher, one of Ms Lindgren’s greatest passions is the welfare of Australia’s youth and setting them up for the future.
She said she had great familiarity with Logan’s educational needs, having taught in Browns Plains, Runcorn and Woodridge, as well as Beaudesert during her 25 year career.
She used her maiden speech to demand reform for the country’s schooling system, putting her transition from “working-class girl” to Senator down to a sound education.
“One of the greatest motivators for schools to succeed is for them to ensure that, at the end of any schooling experience, hope is ignited – hope for employment and hope for their graduates to achieve their goals,” she said in parliament.
“Ultimately education must be geared for when someone leaves school, as the achievement of many important dreams and hopes will depend on their earning capabilities.”
It was dissatisfaction with the education system that first sparked Ms Lindgren’s move towards a political career.
“I think for me, frustration as a teacher in the classroom under successive Labor governments, was the reason why I decided to enter politics,” she said.
“I’d worked under both governments… as a classroom teacher, the LNP or the liberal government certainly for me, resourced schools well.
“When they lost power and a Labor government came in I felt it was necessary for me to join a party that I believed was best for schools, best for education, best for kids and best for the community.
“I felt I needed a voice and the LNP gave me that platform.”
Ms Lindgren, like her great-uncle before her, is a trail blazer in Australian politics.
As Queensland’s first indigenous female LNP Senator, she said it was her job to do “the work of today”.
Key among that work, she said, was promoting equality for women in politics.
She said the Queensland LNP was on track towards achieving that goal, thanks to branches that support, nuture and train women with political aspirations.
“I’ve been very very lucky, I’ve had people surround me who absolutely believe I should be in politics, men and women,” she said.
“Definitely in the LNP there is a movement that encourages women to engage in politics.
“I don’t believe that the government believes in quotas and I can’t speak on behalf of Tony Abbott… (but) every woman that has been pre-selected and elected into parliament has got there on merit.
“It is important for the government to engage women and Tony Abbott is actively pursuing that.”
Ms Lindgren is a conservative at her core, with values shaped by her Catholic faith.
She said she joined the LNP because the party had values closely aligned with her own.
“I believe in small government, I believe in promoting small business, I believe in traditional family values and ensuring that Australia’s economy is in the absolute best state it can be,” she said.
An opponent to calls for a conscience vote on same sex marriage, she said it was ironic parliament broke that very debate to listen to her maiden speech this month.
“Everyone was in the room and had to stay, so I had a captive audience,” she said.
“I believe in traditional marriage as a conservative.
“The only reason you’d have a conscience vote is if you have no policy and the LNP have a policy on traditional marriage.”
Ms Lindgren is confident the LNP will be returned to government in 2016.
“I think we have a very good chance of getting back in government,” she said.
“I don’t worry about polls and I’m sure the prime minister doesn’t worry about polls either.
“People are sensible, they will see that we have a plan and the plan is to get Australia back on track with a good economy.”
She said she was keen to play a key role on several parliamentary committees over the coming months, including those looking at the introduction of the NDIS, out of home care, pharmaceutical benefits and adoption laws in Australia.
“I see myself contributing to those committees, ensuring that children are put first and making recommendations that the government can follow through on,” she said.
