Susan Templeman (Macquarie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Every year Raise Our Voice invites young Australians to tackle the big questions shaping our future. This year's Macquarie winner is Rohan, and I'm delighted to read part of his speech, which focused on the challenges ahead of us domestically and internationally in trade, human rights and the environment. He says:

The future of young Australians depends on what we do today. It's our responsibility, as a global leader of non-major nations to rally against these challenges.

We cannot compromise on human rights, even when it is the most difficult option. We must defend the freedom of the press and the rule of law, which are so often threatened in the name of national security, to allow our youth to grow up in a safe, democratic and dynamic nation where rights and freedoms are protected.

However, all of this will come to naught if future generations inherit a destroyed world or, may it never be, that they fail to lead. The government must provide Australia's youth the education and opportunities needed to develop through enhanced critical thinking in the face of AI and misinformation, an understanding of basic principles of economics, history and culture, and a reduced voting age to empower those most at stake to defend themselves without their interests at heart. If we fail to act we leave our youth an unjust, unsafe and unprepared world.

Those are Rohan's words. I also acknowledge the efforts of Harper, Mieke and Bronte, who wrote about the importance of access to school sport, quality education and policies focused on the younger generation. I commend them all on their thoughtful and worthwhile contributions to this debate.

There was another young person's speech delivered in parliament this week. This one was by 11-year-old Theo Carson-Drevers from the Blue Mountains, who spoke with confidence to a room full of politicians. It's part of an annual event where children with hearing loss from across Australia and New Zealand come to parliament. This year's theme, 'the power of my team' highlights the life-changing role of early access and team based care in helping deaf children build confidence, communicate and thrive.

I introduced Theo, who was the New South Wales representative, to the health minister just before the event, and Theo assured the minister that he was not at all nervous. Indeed, his speech was delivered with humour and a maturity well beyond his young years. Theo is a powerful example of what is possible when you bring together technology like cochlear implants with multidisciplinary support including speech therapy and family support. I'm sure his teachers have also played a role, and thanks to Chris Rehn, CEO of NextSense, another mountains local, who was there to support young Theo

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