KARDINIA International College student Milli McDonald has urged her peers to \u201cmaintain their rage and enthusiasm\u201d on the issues that will shape their future in a speech read in the nation\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n
The 17-year-old Year 12 student from Geelong was one of the writers in Raise Our Voice Australia, in which 40 federal Parliamentarians each read a 90-second speech from someone aged under 21 in their electorate.<\/p>\n
Milli\u2019s speech references her grandfather, who fled Yugoslavia\u2019s Communist regime and arrived in Australia with just the clothes on his back and $8.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor him, freshly 18, Australia was a welcoming, kind \u2018golden country\u2019, full of promise, hopes and dreams for his future family.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am now two months away from turning 18, and 53 years after my grandfather landed, have my own dreams for Australia. In 20 years, I envision a country that presents everyone with the opportunities of the \u2018golden country\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see equitable access to education, healthcare and careers that spans gender, race and sexual orientation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see us upholding our international responsibilities: Doing our fair share on climate change. Treating those fleeing their homes with kindness and respect. To remember we have \u2018boundless planes to share\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur generation\u2019s call to action is on climate. We must not see net zero as a threat, but an opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have an abundance of natural resources. 20 years gives us the chance to become a green energy powerhouse, to create jobs in green energy.<\/p>\n
“We must maintain our rage and enthusiasm for gender equality. For racial equality. For climate justice. For refugees. For our \u2018golden country\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Successful applicants to Raise Our Voice Australia addressed the question \u201cWhat is your vision for Australia in 20 years?\u201d and were invited to take plart in a workshop on the Australian political system.<\/p>\n
Corio federal member Richard Marles, who delivered Milli\u2019s speech on Wednesday last week, said he met the Year 12 student a few weeks ago and discussed former prime minister Julia Gillard\u2019s misogyny speech, which had a significant impact on Milli.<\/p>\n
\u201cMilli\u2019s speech is an important reminder that we need to be a country which provides everyone the same opportunities, where protecting our environment is a priority and that we cannot leave anyone behind.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the vision from our Corio youth and I am very proud to deliver Milli\u2019s words to Parliament.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other Victorian federal Parliamentarians listed as participating in the Raise Our Voice Australia initiative during Youth Voice in Parliament Week (October 18-22) include Corangamite federal member Libby Coker, Senator Sarah Henderson, Senator Janet Rice, Senator Lidia Thorpe and Senator David Van.<\/p>\n
Raise Our Voice Australia run training, provide mentors and provide opportunities at the decision making tables around the country for young people, especially young women, and to ensure that public decision-making institutions reflect the entirety of the Australian population.<\/p>\n
For more information, head to the Raise Our Voice Australia website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KARDINIA International College student Milli McDonald has urged her peers to \u201cmaintain their rage and enthusiasm\u201d on the issues that will shape their future in a speech read in the nation\u2019s capital. The 17-year-old Year 12 student from Geelong was one of the writers in Raise Our Voice Australia, in which 40 federal Parliamentarians each […]<\/p>\n