Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. In 1978 former Prime Minister Fraser appointed the first minister for youth affairs. Successive prime ministers from that date until 2013 appointed youth ministers, including three ministers during the Howard government years. Given that there are 2.6 million young people aged between 15 and 24 in our country, deserving specific representation, Prime Minister, will you appoint a minister for young people in this parliament?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for her question. I can say to her that I am honoured to lead a thoroughly youthful ministry—some of us more young at heart than young in years, but all of us thoroughly committed to delivering great opportunities for young Australians.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Member for Bruce, member for Moreton, member for Grayndler!

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank her very much for her question. Of course, everything we are doing is designed to deliver greater opportunities for our children and grandchildren. I can say to the honourable member that it would be a mistake to imagine that only the young care about the young. The reality is that everything we do is building a better future for the generations to come: paying off the debt, ensuring that future generations do not have fewer services and have to pay higher taxes, ensuring that they have greater opportunity. I can assure the honourable member that the young people of Australia are always very much in the forefront of our minds, whether we are very young members of parliament or perhaps grandfathers like myself.

Honourable members interjecting—

The SPEAKER: Member for Griffith, member for Reid.