Anasina Gray-Barberio criticised the Victorian Parliament in her maiden speech after family and friends were not allowed to sing a hymn inside the chamber on Wednesday.

Instead, they had to sing from the corridor and gallery.

Gray-Barberio made history this week as the first Pacific MP sworn into Victoria's parliament in Australia.

She hails from Falealupo and Fasito’o and is the new Greens legislative council member for Victoria’s Northern Metropolitan region.

Gray-Barberio told the National Indigenous Times it was “incredibly disappointing” that a request to suspend standing orders by leave for a short period was denied.

"As the first Pasifika-Samoan person to be entering this Parliament, this is an incredibly significant moment, and it's important for me to be able to practice my culture and have my community here for this moment.”

She criticised the Victorian parliament in her inaugural speech.

“We were banned from sharing a small part of our culture with you this evening, a part of our culture that comes into this place with peace and goodwill,” she said.

“I urge you, it is not my community you need to be scared of. What you should be scared of is the fear you hold in your heart for communities that are not representative in this political institution.”

Under Victorian legislative standing orders, only the Speaker may admit a stranger onto the floor of the chamber, and a member must not bring a stranger into any part of the House that is set aside for members.

In 2016, former Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney was sung into Parliament by Wiradjuri woman Professor Lynette Riley after delivering her inaugural speech.

Gray-Barberio said it was a missed opportunity for the House to embrace diversity.

“I will not be the last to request for cultural rituals to be shared, but I do hope that for the next person representing a different part of our society, this institution makes space for them and who they are.”

"Surely, in 2024, parliament should be able to accommodate cultural traditions such as this."

Gray-Barberio said people need to see themselves reflected in politics.

“Representation matters, not just for our community, but for all marginalised communities being met with one obstacle after another.

"They say you can't be what you don't see. I say, don't be afraid to be the first.”

Gray-Barberio was born in Samoa before moving with her family to the diverse suburb of Broadmeadows as a teenager.

“We grew up with families of different cultures, sharing stories of resilience and collective experiences, but on the other side of this was hardship.

“Anytime you said you were from the 3047 postcode, immediately expectations were lowered and stigmatising actions were instant.”

She founded Engage Pasifika, an organisation addressing health inequities in the local Pacific community. She wanted to continue her advocacy for homeless communities, family violence victims, foster care and refugee families in her political role.

Climate change was also a major focus of Gray-Barberio’s speech, as she highlighted the growing environmental challenges locally and in the region.

The Victorian Legislative Council has 40 seats, divided into eight regions with five seats each. Gray-Barberio won the ballot to replace Green MP Samantha Ratnam, who is moving into national politics.