MELBOURNE, April 8 – Pakistan-born Dr Mehreen Faruqi(pic) will become the first Muslim woman in any parliament in Australia. Mehreen will replace New South Wales (NSW) upper house MP Cate Faehrmann when she resigns from NSW politics in June to run for a seat in the Federal Senate.
Mehreen who had migrated from Pakistan with her family in 1992, won the Greens pre-selection late on Saturday, following a postal ballot from among a field of seven women-only candidates.
She describes herself as an “environmental engineer, climate change and education activist, proud union member and feminist”. Mehreen told the Australian Associated Press that her Islamic faith was only “one element” of her background.
“I am proud of my culture and heritage but I’m also proud of my professional achievements,” she said.
Mehreen said her appointment was a “very progressive” move for Australia, and she would seek to build stronger relationships with migrant communities in her new role.
“We do need a spectrum of diverse politicians in Australian parliament who can represent our communities. It shows the world that we really value multiculturalism.”
BERNAMA
