Patrick Gorman (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Some 20 years ago I first came to this building as an enthusiastic teenager with the view that my voice deserved to be heard by those who made decisions. I knocked on doors of politicians of every persuasion, talking about what was important to me, which was accessibility and affordability of education. Some 20 years later I'm now in this place on a much more regular basis, but my values remain the same—to make sure that you have fairness and opportunity and to protect this wonderful Australian democracy.

It's no surprise that, like many of my colleagues, I'm now today joining the Raise Our Voice movement, as I call it, to raise the voices of the young people of this generation, of this moment of 2024, recognising that they have such an important role in building the society of tomorrow and in protecting democracy. If they feel that they get heard in this place, that is a great investment that we can all make.

I'm following my colleague, the Minister for Youth, in bringing a speech here that has been prepared by a constituent. I'm proud to share the voice of my constituent Mr Alexander Pez in our nation's parliament. Alexander says:

Like many nations across the earth, the Commonwealth of Australia is founded upon a shared idea of community and identity.

No matter how far or how wide many of us will roam, we still call Australia home.

This sense of community has been created from a considerable amount of trust and goodwill over nearly 125 years of our nationhood.

However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, I fear that this sense of shared community is facing one of it's biggest tests.

As the world faces significant turmoil, people are looking for the reasons why, who to blame, which head to hound.

Social media—once heralded as a new era of democracy—has only strengthened the political divides.

With each political grouping making totems to berate, rather than building bridges with other groups.

Because of this, now more than ever, it is easier to put yourself in an echo chamber than hear someone who disagrees with you.

But this division can be reversed.

In 10 years, if we want to make a more cohesive and equal Australian society, we can start by just encouraging people to see the other sides' perspective.

If you're a leftie, read the Tele, if you're a conservative, read the Guardian.

Small changes like that in our politics can make Australia a more cohesive and informed nation.

Alexander's speech shares two important truths. The first is that we live in an increasingly complex world. The second is that we build a better society by finding ways to bring people together. I'm so pleased to have shared his words in this parliament, and I've also been really pleased to hear the words of so many other young Australians who have great faith in what we, as elected parliamentarians, can achieve here.

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