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Youth Voice in Parliament Week Kicks Off
Media release – Raise Our Voice Australia, 7 October 2024
Youth Voice in Parliament Week Kicks Off: Tasmanian politicians unite to champion youth voices in Parliament
From 8 to 11 October, politicians across Australia will dedicate a speaking slot to deliver a 90-second speech crafted by a nation’s future leaders, amplifying the next generation’s voice in Parliament.
In a record-breaking show of support, 96 MPs and Senators will highlight the voices of Australians as young as 10, addressing the issues that matter most as part of the Raise Our Voice in Parliament 2024 campaign.
The likes of Adam Bandt, Monique Ryan, Josh Burns, Lidia Thorpe, and Sarah Hanson-Young will read speeches written by young people in their electorates answering the question: “What do you want your community to look like in the next ten years and what can the next parliament do to achieve it?”.
Tasmanians will see five local politicians championing their youth voices from the floors of Parliament House in Canberra. The participating politicians are:
- Bridget Archer
- Andrew Wilkie
- Brian Mitchell
- Nick McKim
- Carol Brown
Bridget Archer MP has already read a speech from Jarrah, a young person in her electorate of Bass.
“We, the youth of Australia, have accepted that we will most likely never own a house. We have accepted that we will always have to struggle to pay our bills. We have accepted that we will have to sit by and watch as Woolworths and Coles jack up their prices higher and higher every few months. We should not have to accept this,” writes Jarrah.
“The cost-of-living crisis impacts millions of Australians from all across the country, and it is starting to feel like nobody really cares. Students are struggling to get an education because of the cost of petrol, buses, or parking. People (are) getting more stressed, anxious, and depressed because of the stresses of trying to stay afloat in our economy. People are skipping meals because they just paid their car registration and cannot afford to eat that day. Some people have to go to sleep for dinner. More people are experiencing homelessness in our country than ever before. Australia’s mental and physical wellbeing is under dire threat, and we feel like there is nothing that we, as citizens, can do about it.”
Jarrah also adds: “What we need is adequate, safe government housing. We need subsidised transport and parking. We need more major supermarket chains to help break the duopoly of Woolworths and Coles. We need to introduce more community gardens to assist in providing safe and healthy food to all Australians. This is not something that only affects a small percentage of the population. This is something you should care about because this impacts everyone, including you”.
You can watch Archer read out Jarrah’s speech here: https://www.instagram.com/p/
The annual Raise Our Voice in Parliament campaign, now in its fourth year, shines a unique spotlight on Australia’s youth’s diverse voices, views, and opinions, who possess invaluable insights yet are often overlooked in political and policy debates.
This initiative, led by Raise Our Voice Australia, enhances youth participation in politics and democracy by promoting national discourse on key issues and addressing barriers innovatively. It also features workshops and opportunities alongside the speech competition to teach young people how to influence government and policies.
Raise Our Voice Australia is a volunteer-led social enterprise that mobilises young women and gender-diverse people to transform policy and politics through campaigns, research, and training.
To view the speeches in parliament or for more updates, visit www.instagram.com/