ACT Labor senator Katy Gallagher can't pinpoint the exact reason she got into politics.
But the lack of women in the ACT assembly was one of them.
Senator Gallagher went on to claim the top job of ACT politics, holding the title of chief minister from 2011 to 2014.
She now sits in the Senate, representing the territory where she was raised, studied and raised her own family.
Senator Gallagher replaces former senator Kate Lundy, who retired earlier this year.
She's clearly proud of her city, Canberra, and wants more for the nation's capital.
"The march to full democracy continues at a slow pace," she said of the ACT during her first speech to the Senate on Wednesday.
Territory legislature is constrained by the provisions of the Self Government (Australian Capital Territory) Act, she said, meaning the parliament is prevented from passing certain laws and can have others overturned.
But she believes the "bush capital" is big enough to enjoy the benefits of city living but small enough to maintain a strong community.
But its reliance on public service jobs also makes it vulnerable.
Senator Gallagher accused former prime minister John Howard of "taking a razor" to Canberra in 1996, when he cut thousands of public service jobs and flung the territory into recession.
Motherhood was another motivator for Senator Gallagher to enter politics.
As a single mother in 2000, issues like paid parental leave, equal pay, sole parent pensions, childcare and affordable healthcare were top of mind.
The 20-year Labor member told the upper house she believes in jobs, unions, universal healthcare and education and that politicians shouldn't shy away from hard, complex and divided debates.
"I believe that we can have debates on national security to keep our community safe and still show compassion and care for people fleeing persecution and seeking refuge in foreign countries," she said.
But she's still disappointed that women remain under-represented across Australian parliaments.
"We must recommit across party lines to encourage more women into political organisations," she said.
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