Terri Butler MP

Member for Griffith, Queensland

Federal Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water

Coronavirus may be keeping her physically from the floor of the House of Representatives, but MP Terri Butler is as busy as ever. People and businesses throughout her Queensland seat of Griffith are hungry for detail on the Coalition Government's rescue packages and she's conscious of offering much-needed support.

"Many people are vulnerable and in a precarious situation," she says. "I'm reaching out by phone across churches and childcare centres, schools and business organisations to connect with them and ensure they are getting the information and support they need. I always feel a great responsibility to my constituents - the decisions that we make in Federal Parliament directly affect people's lives and livelihoods - but I feel that now more than ever."

Terri has held the urban Brisbane seat since winning the Labor by-election brought on by the resignation of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, in 2014. Although re-elected in 2016 and 2019, she has, frustratingly, only ever known opposition government. However, the UNE alumnus - Terri graduated with a Graduate Diploma in Economics last year - believes an effective opposition is vital.

"It can be difficult when you see what needs to be done but you don't have the power to do it," she says. "But that doesn't mean we have to acquiesce on things that we don't think are appropriate. We cannot drop the ball on our scrutiny and consultation processes during this pandemic. The challenge is to be constructive while also maintaining a critical eye and providing feedback from our communities."

Right now, Terri is especially concerned whether those who have been in more than one casual job for the past 12 months or on labour hire contracts will qualify for wage assistance. She is also keeping well across her shadow environment and water portfolio, with allocations in the Murray-Darling Basin due at the end of June. "That's going to be a really significant issue for people in terms of deciding what to plant and what stock to carry," Terri says. "And one of the side effects of this pandemic is that the usual town hall-style meetings used to consult with people on water allocations have been cancelled. How are we going to ensure scrutiny and accountability for the agencies of government that hold decision-making power?"

With a background as an industrial lawyer, Terri brings considerable professional expertise and experience to her shadow role. "There is a lot of concern about whether the facilities, frameworks and apparatus for water management in Australia work fairly, and we need to restore confidence in governance and administration," she says. "Particularly during the drought, people have been concerned about whether or not they are getting a fair go with allocations, whether they are getting a fair go in relation to the decisions made by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, and whether others are acting fairly in the market."

A dedication to giving everyone "a fair go" perhaps dates back to Terri's parents and her Cairns childhood, but more formal Labor leanings developed during her first university degree at James Cook University. By the time she added law qualifications and launched her legal career Terri was serving as a delegate to state and national Labor conferences.

"The thing about the Labor Party is that there are lots of opportunities to get involved," she says. "A lot of my legal work was around whether someone had a job or not, and if they did have a job, what conditions they were working under. But I was operating case-by-case and I could see there were systemic problems in what people faced in their households and businesses."

When the opportunity arose to stand for Griffith, it was "almost an imperative to take it". "Not everyone gets the chance to participate in changing systems, and there's a long tradition in our party of encouraging participation," Terri says. "Still, it wasn't easy moving into the seat of Griffith. Kevin [Rudd] was my local member and as well as being Prime Minister, he was a great member. It's a difficult seat to run for and a difficult seat for Labor to hold."

In recent years, Terri has proudly championed marriage equality and whistleblower protection. "People now feel that it was almost inevitable, but achieving marriage equality was a big job; we had to really fight for it," she says. "And we need better whistleblower protections in this country; it's just a fact. Otherwise we do not get the information we need for things to run properly and to protect the most vulnerable members of our community."

Finding time to study at UNE was part of Terri's ongoing professional development. "I wanted some structured learning in my life, and there wasn't a better remote offering in the country," she says. "I could study at weird times of the day or night, and there's not really a more relevant discipline than economics for a federal parliamentarian. It was a great experience, the subjects were fascinating, and I probably would have done my Masters, had I had the time."

Words of advice:

Get involved in your local community, and in causes that matter to you. You learn a lot, make crucial connections, and get the chance to help people by being involved in community groups. Whether it's the school fundraising committee, the management committee for a local charity, or a local sports group, there's a place for everyone who wants to volunteer. I would also recommend joining a political party, and getting involved in your local MP's campaign. It doesn't have to be scary - it can actually be really rewarding to work alongside someone who shares your values.