As a child, independent MP Allegra Spender spent her school holidays like many of us do: tagging along to her parents' work. If she wasn't stuffing envelopes for her father John Spender, the Liberal MP for the federal seat of North Sydney, she was with her mum, famed businesswoman and fashion designer Carla Zampatti."I remember when I was about 11 and [my sister] Bianca was 12, [Mum] wanted us to realise how hard you need to work to be successful As did a role with consulting giant McKinsey.But despite her protestations about fashion as a teen, she eventually became the managing director of her mother's fashion label.The legendary designer grew up in rural Italy during World War II and arrived in Australia when she was 11.According to Ms Spender, her mother was a "very proud migrant" who was "incredibly grateful for the opportunities it gave to her".Running for the seat of Wentworth shortly after her mother's death was the hardest decision Ms Spender's ever made."I thought a lot about Mum when I made it, because she said, 'I only regret the things I didn't do.'"And I thought a lot about women, because one of the reasons why I stood was because I just believe you should have a parliament that reflects the country."About the current immigration debate, Ms Spender believes there are "fair questions about the number of immigrants".But she said it was challenging to "create a space where people feel that they belong and [there's] that sense of common ground, common values"."I think it takes work," she said.The seat of Wentworth stretches from picturesque Watsons Bay to Clovelly and includes Bondi Beach.The MP and her family were at the beach on the day of the shooting in December 2025, leaving at about 5:30pm