Jess Teesdale (Bass, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Tonight I want to celebrate two remarkable young people from my electorate of Bass who have taken part in Raise Our Voice Australia, a national initiative that amplifies the voice of young Australians in our parliaments and in our public life. ROVA gives students a platform to step into our shoes for a moment, to put their ideas on the record and to remind us that policies ultimately are about the future that they will inherit. It is a simple but powerful concept: ask young people what matters, listen carefully and take their contributions seriously. In Bass, and across Australia, we are lucky to have young adults who are thoughtful, curious and brave enough to engage with big questions. They do not all agree, and nor should they. They bring different values and experiences, and that diversity is a strength. Our democracy is healthier when we make room for principled disagreement, for evidence and for respectful debate.

I'm proud of the culture of participation that is growing in northern Tasmania through our schools, community groups and families. It is encouraging young people to write, speak up and lead. Programs like ROVA help turn classroom conversations into civic engagement and turn civic engagement into lifelong public service—in whatever form that takes. I say to the students from Bass who submitted this year: you should be proud. It takes courage to put your words forward and to be judged on your ideas. Thank you for trusting me with your voices. Tonight I will place two of these voices on the parliamentary record. The first is Lucia, who asks us to think beyond electoral cycles and plan for the next century:

Hello. I'm Lucia. I'm 15, and I live in regional Tasmania, an island rich in natural resources. Lately, I've been thinking not just about next year or the next election but the next 100, 200 or even 500 years. Countries like Singapore and Japan already plan that far ahead, and I believe Australia should too. Right now, it feels like every time the government changes, so does the plan. We get short-term fixes instead of long-term vision. But if we thought in centuries, our policies would look very different. We wouldn't keep selling off ports, farms and mines to the highest bidder. We would protect and strengthen our manufacturing sector. We would make sure our natural resources are locally owned. We would also invest properly in education, climate action and mental health, not just because they are popular now, but because they shape the future we want to build. True leadership means asking, "What kind of country will we leave behind?" and then acting on it. I may be young, but I want to grow up in a country that thinks big, builds wisely and plans for generations, not election cycles.

The second is Jessica, age 16, who challenges us to balance government responsibility with individual agency:

These days it's common to look to the government for answers. The first reaction is often, "The government should fix this—that's their job." However, the Government was never intended to manage every part of our lives. Its role is to protect our rights, maintain order, and create conditions where people have the opportunity to succeed. Over time this focus has shifted, and more people expect the government to step in and handle problems that we might solve ourselves. While it's natural to want comfort, something important is lost when we depend too heavily on elected governments. Solving challenges on our own builds resilience, whereas constant reliance and the reduction to self-determine can ultimately lead to disadvantage. Rather than asking for more programs and subsidies we should ask the government to focus on creating an environment where everyone, no matter their circumstances, can build a life based on their own goals and efforts. With the freedom to choose and the opportunity to achieve comes both risk and responsibility. The better question isn't ,"What will government give us?" but, with self-interest in mind, "What will our governments allow us to do for ourselves?" True freedom means having the ability to take care of yourself and shape your future, even when there are challenges. I'm thankful for our Australian government and hope that it always allow the people who elect it to thrive.

I commend both young writers and I thank Raise Our Voice Australia for this opportunity. Thank you so much to Lucia and Jessica.

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