Michael Johnson (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am pleased to be speaking in this great chamber, this house of democracy, as the federal member for Ryan, representing the wonderful people of the western suburbs of Brisbane. I want to take this opportunity in the parliament to commend the young people I met in my electorate several weeks ago who won the 2007 Ryan youth leadership awards. I instigated these awards when I became the member for Ryan in 2001 to celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of our young people because I felt that they ought to be recognised and celebrated. They are outstanding young people. The two young people I want to refer to come from a family in Mt Ommaney in the centenary suburbs. These two young people have taken on the wonderful art of karate. In their spare time, they not only learn the art of karate but also teach it. Anyone who is practised in the art of karate or in martial arts will know that it is a wonderful art—and I call it an art—because it gives you a sense of discipline, it gives you a certain type of value, a respect—

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