The Labor MP representing one of Australia's most multicultural electorates has farewelled parliament after 18 years.
Julie Owens was elected member for Parramatta in western Sydney in 2004, which ended an eight-year hold for the Liberal Party.
But it has been one of Labor's most important and difficult seats to hang on to with a margin of just 3.5 per cent after the 2019 election.
Ms Owens reflected on what it was like to represent an electorate "where one in two people you see on the street do not share your view of the world sufficiently to vote for you".
She said it had taught her to listen to and understand different ways of thinking when representing such a diverse community and she encouraged all parliamentary members to do the same.
"Leaders are defined by who they empower and my one hope is I have left a level of civility," she said.
Labor is yet to announce its Parramatta candidate for the 2022 election.
