Michelle Ananda-Rajah (Higgins, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It gives me great pleasure to read a speech today that was written by 10-year-old Harry Brennan, who is in the gallery, from Murrumbeena Primary School for the youth Raise Our Voice competition. Hi, Harry!

At Murrumbeena PS our school crest includes the words ''excellence through endeavour". Through the IB program, we are encouraged to be enquirers and risk takers. In thinking what the new parliament can accomplish, all I want is for our government to be resilient and to be brave.

I want our new government to spend money that is collected for good reasons—such as education, health, the environment (including climate issues) and looking after the rights of Indigenous people.

People with disabilities should be able to access education and the workforce in the same way that people without a disability can. People with medical needs must be able to get treatment without worrying about the cost. We need to take action in relation to the environment. The bushfires, droughts and floods will only get worse. The Indigenous people of our country have been treated unfairly by previous governments and they need to be listened to.

Most importantly, we need to stop just thinking about the past or the present. We need to think about the future. I want the new government to think about what will happen if we don't show everyone respect, invest in renewable energy and take care of the planet. We need to be resilient. We need to be brave.

Hear, hear, Harry! We agree.

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