Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak in response to the matter of public importance submitted by Senator Siewert, a parliamentary colleague from Western Australia. Senator Siewert would like the chamber to discuss the suggestion—the suggestion—that young Australians aged 18, 19 and 20 be blocked from participating in democracy by raising the voting age to 21. I'm very pleased to be standing here tackling the big issues facing Australia today. I've been particularly entertained by Senator Dastyari's demonstration of his consistent lack of interest in any intellectual development over his lifetime, a record that he continues in the Senate today!

On this matter of public importance, we've heard some very sensible points raised by Senator Paterson, of course. But, as usual, we've heard some pretty serious nonsense—and headline-seeking nonsense at that—from those opposite and also from the Australian Greens. Wasn't it wonderful to see Senator Dastyari and Senator Hanson-Young on a unity ticket, providing the chamber with living proof of the very wise assertion of the poet Ogden Nash that you are only young once but you can stay immature indefinitely.