STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator MULHOLLAND (Queensland) (13:55): Today I will read a speech written by a young Queenslander as part of the Raise Our Voice in Parliament campaign: My name is Chloe, I'm from the electorate of Ryan and a year 11 student with a passion for medicine. When asked, 'What steps should the government take today to build a better tomorrow for young Australians?' my answer is simple close the rural healthcare gap.

Because without healthcare there is no future for young Australians. In major cities, the preventable death rate is 142 per 100,000 people. In rural areas, it's more than double 329.

That's not a statistic. That's a crisis. In 2023, David, a farmer in rural NSW, died of a heart attack because help was over an hour away.

His death could have been prevented, if only he lived closer to care. Young Australians in rural communities are growing up without reliable access to doctors, mental health services, or emergency care. Their futures are being shaped by geography, not opportunity.

We must act now. The government should adopt the C.A.R.E. approach: C—Champion the cause. A—Assist through action and investment.

R—recruit and retain rural healthcare workers. E—engage with rural communities Because where you live should not determine whether you live. A better tomorrow starts with C.A.R.E. today.

To the Raise Our Voice Australia in Parliament: thank you for making sure young voices, like Chloe's, are heard in our national parliament. Their words remind us of the passion, hope and wisdom the next generation brings. I'm honoured to be Chloe's voice in parliament today.