CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Mr MATT SMITH (Leichhardt) (10:13): Like many people here, I have work-experience students come into the office fairly regularly. I think it's important for them to see the work of their local MP and to develop a trust in institutions such as government and democracy. As part of their time with me, one of the things I get them all to do is write a speech.

This is a speech written by Harrison Smith: Good Morning everyone. My name is Harrison Smith and I am a Year 10 student currently attending at Cairns State High School. I'm from Gove also known as Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory, currently living in Cairns, in Far North Queensland.

Today I want to speak about something that affects every community in Australia—violence. Violence is more than just physical harm. It includes bullying, abuse, domestic violence and crime.

Everyday people live in fear because of the actions of others. No one should have to feel unsafe at school at home or in their own community. To governments I ask this; How many more lives must be changed before enough is enough?

We need strong action, invest in mental health support, education for young people about respect, provide better protections for victims and create more opportunities to prevent violence before it starts. But change doesn't only come from government. It starts with us too.

We can choose to stand up against bullying, include people who feel left out, and speak up when something isn't right. Even small actions can make a big difference. Think about the kind of Australia you want to grow up in.

Do you want a country where people are scared or one where everyone feels safe and respected? The choice is ours. If we all do our part, we can help create communities where people feel supported instead of afraid.

We shouldn't wait for someone else to make the first move. We can be that change. I wanted to talk about violence because I was young I used to get bullied, at school I would get called names.

For the 6 years of primary school I did not feel safe at the time. I don't want kids experiencing the trauma that I had to go through. So lets choose respect over violence, kindness over hate and action over silence.

Thank you Prime Minister and I would like to acknowledge all MPs of the Australian Parliament. I am inspired by Harrison. This is a young man who wants to lead and wants to take responsibility and wants to drive change.

It will be through young men that we are able to change some of the paradigm around domestic and family violence, around the bullying, around the harm. When young men stand up to the manosphere, to the Andrew Tates of the world, we should follow them and we should back them in. He is a very brave and special bloke.

He was an absolute joy in the office, and we will back him 100 per cent of the way, because, when men stand up, that's how we effect change in other men.