STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Dr SCAMPS (Mackellar) (13:35): I'm delighted to read the speech of Beatrice, aged 13, from Mackellar for the Raise Our Voice project. These are Beatrice's words: I've often heard it said that youth are the future. The hope for the future, the future changemakers, but only ever the future.

And yes, youth are the future. But what is always excluded is the fact that we're the present too! Yet, despite youth having uniquely important perspectives, we are ignored; our words never reaching beyond thought into action.

Parliament needs to make it their priority to have youth voices heard at every level of government. Any decision they make affects youth today—not just tomorrow. We may be young, but that doesn't make our ideas any less important.

So what is the 'one big issue' shaping our future? When I began writing this speech, I couldn't decide. Climate change, gender inequality, the housing crisis—they all came to mind.

Then I realised; what if the true problem is that no one listens to those who clearly have the most at stake? What if part of the reason these problems persist is that no one listens to 30% of Australia's population? Imagine, for a minute, that youth were heard.

Voices of change, driving Australia forward. A world where they might even say: youth are the changemakers of today. Thank you, Beatrice.

I wholeheartedly agree.