Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Tiwi people have been rocked by the recent death by suicide of one of our own: a young woman in her mid-20s who, to those around her, appeared to be a beacon of light and positivity. This community role model, who I will call T, exemplified the remarkable progress that Tiwi women have made over the last 10 years. I refer in particular to achievements across a number of different sports, but note that sporting achievements have a significance that extends beyond the footy oval or the tennis court. They constitute a statement to the world that Tiwi women are the equal of men in society.

The passing of T raises a couple of issues that bear careful reflection and consideration. First, there's the issue of private and often lonely pressure experienced by individuals who spend years living, working and being educated down south, who then return home to rejoice and contribute to the advancement of our people. Second, there's the continuing inadequacy of mental health support services for young women across northern Australia, particularly in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. She was by no means the first woman to go down this pathway. Going forward, I'm totally committed to working for change, and I know that the Albanese Labor government is too. There will be more to say on this, because the memory of young women like T must not just be another statistic.