There was an unusually emotional moment to kick off the new Parliament on Tuesday when Ali France, the woman who made history by unseating Peter Dutton, delivered her maiden speech.
France is the first person to take out a sitting Opposition leader and shared deeply personal stories of tragedy and resilience, one of which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese could relate to on a personal level.
Both were involved in life-changing car accidents caused by out-of-control drivers.
France in 2011 was hit at a shopping centre when an elderly driver lost control of his car and she sacrificed herself to push her young son in a pram out of the way. She lost her left leg as a result.
A decade later, in 2021, Albanese was nearly killed in a crash in Sydney’s inner west caused by a Range Rover driver who had veered onto the wrong side of the road and hit his car head on. He has called it a turning point before his rise to prime minister.
France also spoke of her other hardships, including the painful loss of her 19-year-old son Henry, who died from leukaemia in February 2024 after an 18-month battle.
She said her late son’s courage was her the motivation behind campaign which saw her claim the seat of Dickson and end Dutton’s political career.
‘[My son] told me many times, that this election was my time,’ she said in the speech.
Ali France and Anthony Albanese shared an emotional embrace after she gave her speech
France unseated Opposition Leader Peter Dutton from the seat of Dickson on May 3
The 2025 election was the third run France had at the Queensland seat.
‘He was convinced I would win and said a number of times, ‘don’t make me the excuse for you not doing important things’.
‘His words, his courage, were with me every day of the campaign. Henry was instrumental in getting me to this place.’
Ms France said her ‘epic journey’ to sitting in federal parliament was not part of any grand plan, but rather the result of hundreds of little steps.
‘A lifetime of small acts of kindness and support from so many good people,’ she told the House on Tuesday.
She then spoke about her experience in 2011, when she lost her leg.
It happened when France was taking her youngest son Zac, then four years old, to an appointment at a Brisbane shopping centre when an out-of-control car came veering towards them.
Her left leg was crushed from her thigh down as she was pinned against another vehicle.
Ali France lost her leg after an incident in 2011, after she was run down by a car
Martin Wullschleger, the trauma surgeon whose split-second decision to amputate saved Ms France’s life, was in the gallery to hear her maiden speech.
‘The first time I went out to dinner a lady stopped us and said, ‘you have such a pretty face, what a pity you are in a wheelchair’,’ she said.
Following six surgeries in four years, PTSD and severe pain left Ms France at the lowest point in her life.
It was then she came across Iraqi orthopaedic surgeon Munjed Al Muderis who told her he would do everything to get her walking again as she underwent a risky surgery to implant a metal prosthetic.
The refugee and surgeon also watched on from the gallery.
She described being pretty angry by the time she joined Labor in 2016.
‘Landing a job was incredibly difficult for me. People only saw disability,’ she said.
‘It’s like I was born the day of my accident.’
The speech brought a number of MPs in the chamber to tears, including Treasurer Jim Chalmers, and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.
Jodie Haydon, Prime Minister Albanese’s, fiancé previously opened up about how his car crash impacted the couple.
Prime Minister Albanese was involved in a crash in 2021, which left him hospitalised
Albanese’s (right) accident happened just a year into his relationship with Jodie Haydon (left)
Haydon had been dating the then Opposition Leader for barely a year when his car was wiped out by a Range Rover driven by a P-plater metres away from his home in Sydney’s inner-west in January 2021.
Mr Albanese was rushed to hospital with extensive injuries.
‘When I got to the accident and I saw the car before I saw Anthony, and I remember thinking at the time, ‘this can’t end well’,’ Ms Haydon said at the time.
‘And that overwhelming sense of ‘what if I lose him?’ And I knew then that, yeah, I love him. And I love him deeply.’
Albanese also opened up on the crash.
‘I thought that was it. That is how it ends, it seemed like it took a long time, it was just a matter of seconds. But I thought that was the end,’ he recalled.
He was also shown his partner’s recollection of the accident.
‘She is an amazing woman,’ he responded. When asked if it was love, he replied: ‘Yes, I am very lucky.’
Ali France cried during her emotional speech, brought to tears along with many fellow MPs
Albanese and France shared an embrace following the new MP’s speech.
Ms France was the first person elected at the May poll to give her maiden speech in the 48th parliament, with other first-term MPs to deliver their remarks in coming days.
Other MPs who gave speeches on Tuesday included new Melbourne MP Sarah Witty, who beat Greens Leader Adam Bandt.
Witty opened up about her difficulties with pregnancy and her journey to becoming a foster parent.
