Kara Cook (Bonner, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

My electorate of Bonner in Queensland is home to extraordinary people who make our community stronger, kinder and more connected every single day. From Manly to Mansfield, Wakerley to Wishart, Ransome to Rochedale, that community spirit shows up in countless ways right across the electorate. It's seen in the men's sheds, girl guides, Rotary, local sporting clubs and the quiet everyday acts of people who give their time and energy to help others. That is exactly why I'm so excited to open nominations for my Bonner electorate awards. These awards are about celebrating the people who go the extra mile through volunteering, leadership, community service or simple acts of kindness that make a real difference to our local community. The awards are going to have two categories, one for under-18s and one for over-18s, recognising the contributions of people at different stages of life but united by that same strong sense of commitment to our community.

Nominees don't need a title. They don't need to be well known or hold a formal position. They simply need to be a person who is already showing leadership in their school or community, or they might be someone who has spent years giving their time supporting others and strengthening our local community. I encourage people across my electorate of Bonner to nominate someone you might know who lifts others up, who gives without being asked or who makes Bonner a better place. Nominations are open now and close on 6 April.

Young people in our community deserve to be heard not just talked about, not sidelined but listened to and taken seriously. They care deeply about the future of their communities, and young people should have a real opportunity to share their ideas. That is why I'm so proud to announce that applications for the Bonner Future Leaders Advisory Group are now open for young people aged 16 to 23.

This group will give young people from my electorate of Bonner a direct platform to be heard and a genuine opportunity to help shape decisions that affect their lives. We will focus on building community and collaboration and on empowering young people to confidently share their perspectives. The advisory group will bring together emerging local leaders from right across Bonner, and what we want to do is ensure that those views are brought not just into our local community but also back here to this place. Labor believes that young people should be consulted and heard by government, yet the National Youth Survey shows that more than half of young people feel the biggest barrier to participating in politics is not being taken seriously or listened to. That is exactly what the Bonner Future Leaders Advisory Group seeks to change, and I encourage all young people in my community of Bonner to get involved.

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