On Tuesday 22 November 2022, I delivered a speech in Federal Parliament written by 17-year-old local Poppy as part of the Raise Our Voice Australia campaign. You can read the full transcript below.
E WATSON-BROWN: I'm proud to deliver this speech written by Poppy Kidd, aged 17, as part of Raise Our Voice Australia. Poppy says, 'As a young person, I think about how what parliament achieves today will influence what we accomplish in the future. There are always going to be new problems arising and we need sustainable solutions. So why are our youth, one of our most important assets to ensuring Australia's future, failing to meet current standards? Research shows Australian students are increasingly underprepared for their futures, with less participation in STEM subjects and languages other than English. Australia's youth will be the next people in this room. We will be nurses that care for you, entrepreneurs that grow our economy and scientists creating vaccines. However, PISA tests show that many Australian students are lacking in basic literacy and numeracy skills. This parliament needs to grow Australia's public education system by addressing the teacher shortage and creating equal access to quality education. We need to improve our curriculum so students have the knowledge to face the challenges of a rapidly changing world. It's impossible for this parliament to solve all of the issues, but it can change what we accomplish in the future by investing in our youth.' Thanks, Poppy.