Peta Murphy (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm proud to deliver this speech written by 19-year-old Stephanie Gallavich from Skye in my electorate as part of the UNICEF, YWCA Australia, Run for It and Generation: Politics inaugural Youth Voice in Parliament Week. Stephanie's speech is her response to the question: what is your vision for Australia in 20 years?

'Honestly, writing this I found it hard to put into new words how I dream Australia to be 20 years in the future, so, in words said before, I will say that there is no Australia I want more than one that is sustainable, reconciled with the Indigenous people and has justice for women. Future generations and I need an Australia that thrives on sustainable systems and resources, where my choices do not impact future generations in the way it does now. I want Australia to be a place where Indigenous Australians are not discriminated against and can have the rights they have always deserved but never received. As a woman, I want to live in an Australia that has equal opportunities for women in every part of life—in other words: equality. My reasoning for this is simple: put in the wise words of Julia Gillard, 'because we are entitled to a better standard than this'. Maybe we should look at the standard as a goal instead, as we all have set goals in life and we all have achieved goals, and sustainability, diversity and justice are great goals Australia has the ability to achieve.'

Hear, hear, Stephanie. Thank you so much.