Mark Coulton (Parkes, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I'm making a speech on behalf of someone else as part of the Raise Our Voice Australia campaign. I'm about to read a speech written by Molly from Dubbo. When I read this speech, everyone in Dubbo will know who I'm speaking about. The speech reads:

Honourable Members of Parliament, I am from the Parkes Electorate, and today I stand before you not just as a survivor, but as an advocate for change. At 18, I've spent over a third of my life fighting osteosarcoma—a rare and deadly cancer that too many young Australians face, yet too few know about. In the next 10 years, I envision a community where sarcoma is no longer the "forgotten cancer", and where every young person diagnosed with this disease has access to the research, treatment and support they need to survive and thrive. But to make this vision a reality, Parliament must act now. Sarcoma kills more teenagers than any other cancer, yet it receives less than 1% of all cancer funding. This is unacceptable. We need dedicated funding for sarcoma research, national awareness campaigns, and the resources to ensure that no family has to face this battle alone. As a member of the Dubbo Youth Council and the 2024 Dubbo Citizen of the Year, I know far too many families who have lost young people to this deadly disease. I've raised funds, shared stories and fought to make a difference—but I need your help to secure the necessary funding to bring hope to these families. Together, we can ensure that in 10 years, sarcoma is no longer a death sentence, but a challenge we have faced and overcome. I won't rest until we do.