Llew O'Brien (Wide Bay, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I'm speaking on behalf of my good mate Indiana Hehir. Indiana is a 17-year-old young person from Wide Bay who recently took part in UNICEF's Young Ambassador Program. During the last sitting, Indy and the young ambassadors came to the parliament to deliver A climate for change: 2019 young ambassador report. The young ambassadors undertook a national consultation with over 1,500 children and young people across the areas of wellbeing, safety, learning, equality and the environment. Their study found that the issue of greatest concern to children and young people is climate change. They want action taken by all levels of government to address this matter and they want it done urgently.

Mental health was another large issue for the children and the young people, with 91 per cent of young people being concerned about mental health and 55 per cent being very concerned. Indy and the young ambassadors produced a child-friendly version of the report—which became known as the politician-friendly version!—so that they could report back to the children and young people that they consulted with.

It was an absolute pleasure to meet with Indy and the young ambassadors, and I encourage my fellow members to listen actively to children and young people.