STATEMENTS BY SENATORS
Senator CAROL BROWN (Tasmania) (12:54): I'm honoured to be part of the Raise Our Voice in Parliament campaign. Raise Our Voice is a fantastic initiative that provides young people from across Australia with the opportunity to engage with political leaders on issues that matter to them. I'm delighted to read out the following speech from Emily from my home state of Tasmania.
Hello, Emily: 'One significant issue that shapes my future is the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance. Pride is far more than a colourful celebration of 'love is love'. It is a crucial platform for addressing the fear, discrimination and marginalisation that queer individuals face daily.
In Australia, as in many other countries, certain proposed laws threaten the safety and dignity of LGBTQ+ people. This environment of prejudice and ignorance can feel like a prison, trapping many in cycles of despair and homelessness. To combat this, I urge parliament to take meaningful, lasting action.
Comprehensive education and awareness programs must be implemented to challenge harmful stereotypes and promote genuine inclusivity. By providing accurate information and embracing diverse perspectives, we can foster a society that truly respects all individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. This approach not only uplifts the LGBTQ+ community but strengthens and enriches the entire nation.' Thank you Emily.
On another issue, on Monday, I was proud to co-host the Parliamentary Friends of St John Ambulance Australia breakfast with my co-chair, Senator Andrew McLachlan, CSC. The event highlighted the role of the automated external defibrillator, AED, in creating safer, better prepared communities. Speakers were Cameron Oxley, the chancellor of St John Ambulance, and Mark Molloy, a highly experienced ACT Ambulance Service intensive-care paramedic and St John volunteer.
They reinforced a clear message: cardiac arrest can happen anywhere to anyone and without warning. Around 32,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in Australia each year, and every minute without a defib reduces the chance of survival by about 10 per cent. The response must be immediate—call triple zero, begin CPR, and use an AED.
Modern devices provide clear prompts and deliver a shock only when required. St John also showcased at the breakfast its pocket AED, Australia's smallest big thing. Weighing less than 700 grams and about the size of a soft drink can, it can fit in a bag, glove box or jacket pocket, bringing lifesaving technology closer to the community.
This work has a clear impact. In my home state last year, through its community safety defibrillator grant program, St John Tasmania placed four free community AEDs at Home Base, the Middleton fire brigade, Lake Leake Inn and, for the Tasmanian Junior Beekeepers, the Coal Valley bee hub. Each installation was supported by CPR and AED education, giving local people both access to equipment and confidence to use it.
The devices were also registered with GoodSAM and the Tasmanian AED register so their locations are visible to the community and emergency responders. Through First Aid Without Barriers, St John Tasmania has also delivered AED awareness sessions for aged-care residents, people with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and rural, regional and remote Tasmanians.
Lifesaving knowledge and equipment should be accessible regardless of age, background, ability or postcode. Early action saves lives. By improving access to AEDs and building communities' skills, we can give more Australians the best chance of surviving cardiac arrest.
I urge Australians to learn CPR, know where their nearest AED is and be ready to act when every second counts.