STATEMENT BY THE SPEAKER

The SPEAKER (12:00): Before I call the Leader of the House, I have a short statement to make to the House. Members, today is the International Day of Democracy. It's an opportunity to reflect on the state of democracy around the world and here at home in Australia.

We are the 10th oldest democracy in the world, and this year we commemorate 125 years of federation and our parliament—an incredible feat. As Australians, we have much to celebrate as a nation with a proud history of democratic innovation. We are the best country on earth.

As people elected to represent our communities here in the federal parliament, we have a responsibility to safeguard our democracy to ensure Australians have the knowledge, skills and access to reliable information to participate in the decisions that affect their lives. Today, I'm proudly wearing a 'Democracy Counts' pin to show my commitment to protecting Australia's democracy.