Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This week, senators and MPs will have the chance to read speeches from young people across the country as part of the Raise Your Voice campaign, and I have the absolute pleasure to read a speech by Ruilin, a 14-year-old Queenslander. I may be biased, but I reckon it's one of the best speeches out there. This is what Ruilin had to say.

Good morning, everyone,

The future is not something we passively inherit—it is something we actively build.

When we ask, "What steps should the government take for a better tomorrow for young Australians?" we are really asking: 'what vision of Australia do we want to create together?'

First, education. Opportunity must never depend on a student's background or location.

The government should guarantee fair funding for every school and equip teachers to nurture creativity as well as knowledge. A nation that invests in its young minds invests in its future.

Second, mental health.

Barriers of cost, waiting times and stigma stop too many from seeking help.

Government must expand access to affordable, timely and confidential mental health care.

Supporting wellbeing strengthens resilience, and resilient young people strengthen their communities.

Third, cost of living.

Security should not be out of reach for the next generation.

Government action is needed to deliver affordable housing and fair wages, giving young Australians the confidence to plan for tomorrow.

Finally, fairness.

A truly inclusive nation leaves no one behind. Equal opportunity for all must be the foundation of our shared future.

If we act with courage today, young Australians will not only inherit the future—we will shape it, alongside you.

Thank you, Ruilin, for your wonderful speech. It sounds very similar to some of the speeches I've given in this place, but it's your generation that our government is working for. Good luck in the future, and keep fighting for the best state in Australia, Queensland.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I too am proud to be taking part in Raise Our Voice Australia to amplify young people's voices here in parliament. I'm giving this speech on behalf of Olivia, a 16-year-old from my home state of Queensland. Olivia says:

I hope to pursue a career in politics, yet I'm often told, "you'll need tougher skin," or, "you've got to toughen up." But I believe that sensitivity and empathy are not a weaknesses, rather strengths.

I believe that to understand another's pain, to listen without judgement, and to walk in someone else's shoes is the foundation of good leadership, and it's something that we desperately need to see from both current and emerging political leaders.

Compassion breeds action. It drives us to tackle homelessness not with blame, but with housing. To address mental health not with stigma, but with support. To respond to inequality not with indifference, but with justice.

The measure of a society is not how it treats the powerful, but how it treats its vulnerable.

And the measure of a Parliament is not how loudly words are spoken, but how deeply ears listen. Yet too often, politics is driven by self-interest and theatrics, and what's missing is the courage to treat opponents with respect.

Let us build a politics that is less about political slander and more about serving the community. Less about point-scoring and photo ops and more about standing with the vulnerable and creating a space for diversity and difference.

Because compassionate leadership is the key to restoring hope in politics and making a real difference in the world.

That's what 16-year-old Olivia believes, and it really speaks to me as well. The recent UN Australia Youth representative report 2025 shows that only 31 per cent of young Australians feel represented in politics. We need more young women in this place, especially ones with Olivia's compassion, and I look forward to seeing her in the Senate one day.