Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As we head towards the end of the year and the end of things in here—there have been a few actions today—everyone's a bit tired and everyone's a bit stressed. It's all getting a bit like that as we head to the finish line. I've had the great luck of having my son, Lachlan Cadell, down here doing work experience for a few days. He's sitting just to my right down here.

I want to go through some of the stressors. We've been talking about social media. We've been talking about the stress of youth. I want to talk about the people who have just done their HSC. They're sitting here. They're waiting for their results. This is a really interesting part of life. I see, every time we get to this point where people are waiting on their results in the UK, multi-multimillionaire Jeremy Clarkson, who, from the outside, seems to have a very good life, talk about how he got one C and two Us, which I think means either 'incomplete' or 'unsuccessful', in his A-levels.

What happens in your HSC doesn't define you. You'll be tested again and again and again through life. The moments you're having now—all the people out there who have just done their HSC, their VCE or their equivalents—enjoy them. Enjoy this time that you have after your exams and before you join the workforce, before you get a trade or before you go onto further study, because they are the best times of your life. You have all the fun of youth and all the abilities of potential. I know things can get you down. I know you'll be worried about that envelope coming or about that email coming and saying what you can do in the future. I know I am worried about what that email will say, but this is a great time in life.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a text message now.

Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Text messages—there you go. But you are so much more than that message. Everything you do in life—every day, you're faced with a new decision to make your lot better, to make better decisions, to be better people and to do these things. Remember, no matter what happens in life, the people that care for you will always be there. If things are too tough, call them. If things are rough, pick up the phone. If you're feeling horrible, pick up the phone and talk to a friend, because you don't deserve to go through life alone. You always deserve to be supported. (Time expired)