Statements read in Parliament took on a different tone this week, with 96 senators and MPs using their time to deliver a speech written by a young person as part of the Youth Voice in Parliament initiative. Facilitated by youth organisation Raise Our Voice Australia (ROVA), participating members read speeches from people in their electorate or state aged 25 and under.

While ROVA sets the prompt, those submitting speeches are free to apply the question to any topic or policy area. This year’s prompt? “What do you want your community to look like in the next 10 years and what can the next Parliament do to achieve it?”

Opportunities for young people to engage with and be heard by the federal government are rare, despite their growing electoral influence and the many decisions being made in their name, without their input. So when given the chance, what do Australia’s young people choose to speak about?

Here’s a selection of the speeches read in Parliament this week. 

Zara, 11, read by Alicia Payne

“Did you know that more than 76,000 kids in Australia showed up to homeless shelters and many were unaccompanied by adults? Most of these kids were fleeing violence or neglect. This should not be the childhood many children grow up in. Many homeless shelters are undersupplied and understaffed, which means they are turning away people who need a safe place to stay.

What can Parliament do in the next 10 years to help? First, we should all appreciate staff at homeless shelters for all the help and time they are giving to the community. They are seriously undervalued.

Secondly, most homeless shelters don’t have enough supplies to handle a lot of homeless people. They need more money and resources. Do you know what the main cause of homelessness is? Domestic violence. [Since] June 2021, over $700 million was put towards stopping domestic violence, but that was just in NSW. We need a more substantial Australia-wide plan.

This is not a world people should have to live in. I want Australia in the next 10 years to get more people off the streets and into a safe place and solve some of the problems that cause homelessness.”

Alyssa, 21, read by Dorinda Cox

“Imagine you’re 10. Ten years old. You should be thinking about your next birthday party, the school project you’re doing, kicking a ball after school. No, instead you are standing in front of a judge, in a courtroom, being sentenced to imprisonment. You don’t know any better, after all you are only a child, and now you’ve been abandoned by the system, given up on, thrown in prison before your life truly begins.

Unfortunately, this is the reality for many Australian youth. In five out of seven Australian states and territories the minimum age of criminal responsibility is 10 years old. The changes in the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory of raising the age to 12 are welcome, but this is still not enough. The age needs to be raised to 14. 

Studies from the Royal Australian College of Physicians indicate that children under 14 are likely to have limited impulse control and poor organisational skills, which makes them more likely to engage in criminal activity. How can a child who is not developed enough to fully comprehend their actions be stripped of their liberty?

Additionally, incarcerating youth achieves nothing but high rates of recidivism. In the first three months of 2020, 42 youths were sentenced to imprisonment. Of these 42 children, 74% had been sentenced within the previous 5 years, with 57% having been sentenced twice or more. These statistics speak for themselves.

Incarceration does not work and young people deserve a chance at life before being thrown into the vicious cycle of our justice system. I want a community where children are not imprisoned. Please. Raise the Age.”

Jarrah, 18, read by Bridget Archer

“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.

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.

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.”

Nicole, 16, read by Allegra Spender

“In 10 years, I envision a community where mental health support is accessible to everyone. Stable and positive mental health is crucial for our wellbeing, yet it is often overlooked. I’ve seen friends struggle silently, unable to find the help they need. This needs to change.

Imagine a future where mental health resources are as readily available as physical health services. Where schools have dedicated mental health professionals, and workplaces provide regular mental wellness programs. This change would create a supportive environment, reduce stigma, and save lives.

The next Parliament can help achieve this by increasing funding for mental health services, implementing mandatory mental health education in schools, and supporting initiatives that promote mental wellness in all areas of life.

This isn’t just a personal issue; it’s a community one that affects us all. Ultimately, a future with robust mental health support will create a stronger, healthier community. I urge our politicians to prioritise mental health, ensuring no one has to suffer in silence. Together, we can build a future where everyone has the support they need.”