Chris Carter, the new Member of Parliament for Te Atatu, gives his first address to the House of Representatives.
He speaks about his electorate, and the stresses his constituents are facing. He was a teacher in the Te Atatu area for many years, before being elected to Parliament. He speaks about his experience as a teacher, and compares the social issues he saw there with those he sees as an elected Member of Parliament.
He speaks about joining the Labour Party, and his belief in democratic socialism. He compares socialist views to the conservative preference for an unregulated market.
At 11:45 Mr Carter refers to his sexuality, which he says has played a positive role in his life - it has shaped his personal philosophy and sharpened his sense of social justice. He speaks about the discrimination he has experienced, and then speaks about other social injustices including those facing women and racial minorities.
He thanks other members for their support in the passing of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. He then mentions how some sections of the Press are extraordinarily interested in his sexuality, which he says can be insulting and tiresome at times, but is the price he pays for being the first openly gay sitting Member of Parliament.
Broadcast on the AM Network, 16 March 1994.