STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator FARUQI (New South Wales) (13:48): It is my privilege and pleasure to read out a speech today as part of the Raise Our Voice in Parliament campaign. Sara, 14, from New South Wales says: Hello Australia, As a kid, it sometimes feels impossible for adults to change their mind. You give your best explanation, over 1,000 of you can skip school and take a stand for something you believe in.

At best: nothing. At worst adults accuse other adults of 'manipulating the youth into their politics'. Because I am a child, my feelings don't matter, my observations are useless.

I "don't have life experience" or I'm "being indoctrinated"—actual quotes from the comments section on a 7News report on students' rallies. It's confusing. I know every single adult has been a kid just like me, feeling like sometimes the adults just don't listen.

So why don't they now? Just because we haven't lived as long as you doesn't mean we haven't lived at all. We feel, think, observe, see, we're not stupid.

This speech isn't just about parents and teachers, it's about you. This competition is a step forward, but it's annual. Kids have many thoughts and opinions that deserve to be expressed beyond this, including speeches not being read today.

Start a call-line, an Email, host this bi-annually. I'm not asking for much, I'm just asking for us, all of us, to be heard and taken seriously. What's shaping our future?

Well I want it to be me. I want it to be us: kids. We can only do that if you listen.

I must say, it's hard to disagree with Sara. And I hope parliament is listening.