At last year’s election, Dr Marisa Paterson, anthropologist and gambling researcher, became the newest member of the ACT Labor Government. Being Member for Murrumbidgee, she said, is better than being one of the 25 candidates – and a year later, she is “absolutely loving” her political career.

“It’s been a very busy year, but, I think, really productive,” she said. “I’ve had an opportunity to find my feet and get stuck into some good work over the course of the year.”

Dr Paterson, former director of the ANU Centre for Gambling Research, joined the Labor Party because she wanted to contribute to her local ACT community and implement change, rather than only recommend policies. In her maiden speech, she talked about the need to make the world fairer and more equitable, and to fight for the community – and she still sees that as her role.

“My number one objective over the past year has been to build relationships with the community and build trust,” she said. “All the good ideas come from the community.”

Witness her first motion in the Legislative Assembly (February): establishing the Molonglo Valley Community Council, “a really nice little project that now has come to fruition”. The Council was formally recognised in July, and recently elected its board members. “It’s been really nice seeing something through from start to finish,” Dr Paterson said.

Politics, Dr Paterson says, is a 24-hour job; she is busy on weekends and after-hours. “I am really conscious to manage my time, because I would like this to be a long-term sustainable job. I don’t want to burn out, and I want to do a good job, so I’m taking my time. The activities and the people in my electorate are my priority.”

Finding a work-life balance, however, can be difficult with three little children. “There’s a lot of running around!” But, she continued, her children and their sporting and school lives are part of the community. “I guess everything that I do is relevant to my job.”

(During lockdown, her children helped her keep up public spirits by making scarecrows – leading to a Facebook competition to see who made Canberra’s best scarecrows.)

Dr Paterson’s biggest challenge this first year was understanding government processes. “I’d never been into the Chamber before; the processes of how the Assembly works and functions are all very new to me, so learning how to have an impact and to get the outcome that you want through those processes has been a real learning curve and a real challenge. But it’s also new and exciting!”

Her proudest achievement so far, she feels, is reforming the law to introduce a communicative model of sexual consent, more in line with contemporary community expectations, and making it easier for victims of sexual assault to report violation. She expected the legislation to be introduced into the Assembly next year.

“I think it’s a really important amendment to the Crimes Act, that will have an impact in the community and for survivors,” Dr Paterson said.

She also moved that Canberra should become Australia’s first National Park City. Dismayed that the rest of Australia too often thought of Canberra as Parliament House, Dr Paterson believes this will make the ACT a more attractive tourist destination.

Just before lockdown began, Dr Paterson launched the ‘Her Way’ active travel campaign, arguing that the light rail disruption could be an opportunity for southside women to get fitter by cycling or walking to work. A report will be released this month, and she is keen for community feedback.

“It will go some way to making recommendations to the government about how we can engage women in active travel, and make public transport really efficient and safe.”

As a local member, Dr Paterson has relished talking to her constituents; during the lockdown, she missed being out and about. “Corresponding with people over email is not quite the same as meeting people face-to-face!”

Dr Paterson says she wants to make sure people feel comfortable to talk to her.

“A lot of the time, people are reluctant to approach a politician and say: ‘Look, this is my issue; I’m concerned about it.’ But the more people who do, the more we can get better outcomes in the community.”

She has sponsored petitions for better lighting on the Waramanga Oval (“a hyper-local issue that would really support sporting groups’ ability to play at night”), and to improve eating disorder services. She will introduce that petition into the Assembly this year; it will then go to a committee and possibly to an inquiry.

“That’s a really important issue that’s come from the ground and impacts a lot of people,” Dr Paterson said. At the moment, the 17,000 Canberrans who suffer from an eating disorder might have to wait a year for treatment; providing appropriate, dedicated services could save lives.

Another concern is ending gambling advertising, which she believes is pervasive and carefully targeted. Subjected to advertising from sports bookmakers, Dr Paterson noted, a third of people surveyed opened a new online betting account last year; 40 per cent of gamblers suffer adverse consequences.

“This has come to light over the lockdown. A lot of people are very concerned about the amount of advertising they have been exposed to, whether it’s on TV or social media.”

In return, the community has welcomed Dr Paterson. One constituent even wrote on Facebook recently that the MLA reminded her of former Labor MP Gai Brodtmann, “willing to represent herself and truly represent our electorate”. “You are doing a great job, we are lucky to have you … representing us,” said another. A third thanked Dr Paterson for her hard work and support: “You are a lovely human.” One couldn’t ask for a better quarterly performance report.

Dr Paterson invited the community to approach her, email her ([email protected]), or phone her on 6205 1448.

“I’m always open to have a chat about any issues that are relevant to the community.”