Daryl Melham (Banks, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

We are all dead in the long term. Some of us do not necessarily have to have the positions that others occupy to actually make a contribution. I am pleased to be up here speaking on this bill. I do not get up and speak on every single bill in this place because, frankly, I do not think you have to. But, for me, with a university campus in my electorate, I can tell you the people I have mixed with for 18 years and who I know have a genuine commitment can add to our society. I get my inspiration from the academics and from those at university when I meet them in the context of science meets parliament functions and so on. That is why I am here speaking on this bill: to congratulate the minister and the government for acting on our commitment, for taking it forward. This bill will do a lot for the morale of the higher education sector. This will help them take forward the contribution they are prepared to make to our society. That is where governments can take the lead. I am not going to take any garbage from the other side in relation to this matter. I understand they are well intentioned and well motivated, but they should also grow up.

See this speech in context