Dan Repacholi (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's not okay to hurt a child. Every day it's not okay. Today is Child Protection Awareness Day. Children are the most important part of our society, and they should be able to live a safe and happy childhood that sets them up for the future.

Astrid Hocking is an inspiring lady in my electorate. She has dedicated her entire life to looking out for children and has fostered more than 90 children over 24 years ranging from emergency stints to long-term stays. Astrid has been an integral part of the Hearts and Hands Community Development umbrella hearts project. Because of her hard work, today is the second Child Protection Awareness Day. I'm proud to be an ambassador for it.

The statistics are confronting. In 2021 and 2022 alone, there were 72,900 cases of child abuse and neglect in Australia; that's a number that is not acceptable. Children are our future and it's our responsibility to make sure they grow up in an environment of love and support, safe from the dangers of abuse and neglect. If our young people thrive, we all thrive. So, let's join together on this Child Protection Awareness Day. Wear an umbrella ribbon, have an open conversation and share this simple but important message: it's not okay to hurt a child; every day it's not okay.