Ted O'Brien (Fairfax, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We must all learn from history, we must all learn from those who are older and wiser and we must also learn from our own personal experiences. But, as a nation, as we look to the great challenges that lie ahead, we must also learn from the next generation. I was delighted to have facilitated some workshops recently with the year 11 and 12 students from Kulin District High School. The students, like their peers, demonstrate enormous open-mindedness and also critical thinking. They are prepared to listen, but they rightly demand to have a say. They are the ones who will be creating the path for our future, and it is important we engage with them.

As I look to that next generation, it gives me enormous confidence that, despite the political argy-bargy that can sometimes surround the topics of climate change and energy, we have the capacity as a nation to get this right. Meeting with the next generation is a reminder to all of us that we also have to look to next-generation climate solutions, next-generation energy solutions and next-generation technologies to get us there. Thank you very much, Kulin District High School.