Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last month I had the privilege of welcoming to Parliament House students and teachers from Mount Magnet District High School, who were travelling from the red dirt of Mount Magnet—one of WA's original and longest serving gold mining towns—to the heart of our nation's democracy. This school in the Mid West region educates around 90 students from kindergarten to year 10, guided by a simple but powerful set of expectations: 'We are respectful, we are responsible, we are achievers.'

With a strong Indigenous student population, the school weaves culture into the curriculum, keeping students connected to their heritage whilst preparing them for the future. I asked the students what they would do for their town if they were Prime Minister for a day. They said more houses, hospital upgrades and even an X-ray machine—practical solutions to the challenges that their families face. Others spoke about accessibility—wheelchair access at their school, a new arts centre, basketball courts, a swimming pool, a motocross track and even a dog park.

I'd like to thank the students for their very thoughtful ideas. With a town population of around 450, their voices remind us that small regional communities must be heard, not ignored. I urge the government to listen to communities just like Mount Magnet and invest in the infrastructure and services that give each child, no matter where they live, the opportunity and chance to thrive.