Tony Pasin (Barker, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak about this year's ABC Heywire competition. Heywire, now in its 18th year, is a competition run by the ABC which delivers a platform to young Australians from rural, regional and remote Australia to share their stories and ideas. Winners have their stories broadcast nationally via ABC radio and, of course, are invited to participate in the annual Heywire Regional Youth Summit here in Canberra.

2015 has delivered another excellent swathe of content. I have enjoyed listening to these stories over the Christmas-New Year period. This morning I met with Shkiba Nasery and Rebecca Greening, two of this year's winners, who hail from Renmark and Naracoorte, respectively, in my electorate of Barker. Shkiba's story, 'Dad left us for six years to find a better future', and Rebecca's, 'We need to open our hearts to different cultures', are thought-provoking and insightful productions. I commend both of them on their efforts and their recognition in this year's competition.

Shkiba and Rebecca's Heywire contributions highlight the cultural diversity within my electorate of Barker. Shkiba, born in in a small village in Afghanistan, recounts her family's courageous journey to Australia via the humanitarian resettlement program, while Rebecca, who hails from Naracoorte, a regional town that has resettled hundreds of families via that same program, chose to focus on the importance of integrating new migrants into our community and introducing them to our culture and values. I wish Shkiba, Rebecca and their fellow Heywire winners every success at this year's summit as they build on their leadership skills and develop their innovative ideas to deliver a better future for rural, regional and remote Australia.