Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I'm going to read some words from Edith, a 15-year-old from my home state of South Australia, as part of the Raise Our Voice in Parliament campaign. In the face of the climate crisis and the worsening cost of living, young people like Edith recognise that action needs to start now. Edith writes:

I'm Edith, a 15-year-old from the Mayo electorate, and the world looks terrible.

The topic of this speech was meant to be what I want my community to look like in ten years, but things being as they are, I struggle to see a positive world.

Living is getting harder for everyone, and we are leaving people behind. A world that is positive in ten years must start now…

Without immediate action, there is no future to wish for.

I want to live in a world where everyone can afford to survive, but that may never happen without us working for that tomorrow. I want support for people who need it to be readily available, but I need to see that happening now.

Working to fund services such as Centrelink, making them accessible, payments clear and timely, and working to hear and fix other problems flagged by the people affected. That work needs to happen now.

A world in ten years is too far to hope for. Yet it can't be far enough. Working for the future only leads to putting off issues for my generation. Working for tomorrow may get anything done.

Thank you, Edith. Thank you for your words, your wisdom, and for reminding us that we do need to give hope to our young Australians, to our younger constituents, and that hope comes from listening and taking action now.