Julian Leeser
Berowra · Liberal Party · Australia
“Third, the bill gives the minister unilateral power to impose conditions on higher education providers under the new section 36-65 of the HESA, which is introduced by this bill. The current version of section 36-65 of the HESA requires that there be an agreement in place with the provider. The new version does not.”
“Presumably, if you're a university and you get a bad decision, then your only recourse is judicial review, litigation or a constitutional writ. It's not a great option when the target of your litigation will be the minister who will make the future decisions that shape your ongoing financial viability.”
“This bill changes it from capped funding to capped places, but the places cost different amounts depending on the course. The Commonwealth contribution to a history degree is $1,316; agriculture costs $32,400. Could a university which typically teaches history be allocated 100 places and decide to convert them to agriculture?”
“I said very clearly that I understand the value of international students to Australia. I also said: We will want to make changes to the settings around international students, but I want the sector to know that we want to work closely with you to develop these policies and announce them in due course.”
“This so-called system steward, ATEC, can be bypassed at any time by a minister choosing to exercise this power. Again, this means universities are, under this bill, subject to extraordinary control by this minister or any future minister.”
“He said that Australian kids should be taught Australian values, which he defined as democracy, the rule of law, basic freedoms and a fair go.”
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“I rise today to speak on this matter of public importance as an Australian who watched his country's safety be degraded by a government that never, ever gets it right. They never, ever get it right. They always need to be dragged kicking and screaming into doing the right thing. For more than two years, the government ignored warnings from the Persian community, from the Jewish community and from the coalition about the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and about Iran more generally. Firebombings and terror were the result. In the last 28 hours, the government has finally admitted what Jewish Australians, Persian Australians and the opposition have warned of for years: the Iranian regime is a criminal, wildly antisemitic regime that is targeting Australians in Australia.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. For over two years the government has ignored warnings from the Persian community, the Jewish community and the coalition about Iran. Firebombings and terror were the result. For two months the government has had the report of its own antisemitism envoy with actions to protect not just the Jewish community but all Australians but has done nothing. Why is it, when it comes to taking these threats seriously, this government is always playing catch-up?”
“As it so happens, earlier today the children gathered to scatter John and Nancy Stone's ashes at Wyalkatchem in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia, where both John and Nancy grew up. John Stone was a remarkable Australian. May his memory be a blessing.”
“John and Nancy were extraordinarily generous to me. I was honoured when John asked me to succeed him as the conference convener of the Samuel Griffith Society, and before I entered parliament, when I wanted to understand the federal budget, it was John who sat me down over several weeks and explained to me the way the budget was put together, why debt was a problem and where to find the key information I was looking for. This was invaluable to someone without an economics background. Joanna and I were privileged to enjoy John and Nancy's hospitality, with sparkling lunches and superb conversation. The fact that he and Nancy raised five remarkable children is further testament to the lives they built together.”
“Some of my fondest memories of John Stone are of standing at the bar at Samuel Griffith conferences late into the night discussing issues over a few cold beers, just as John did in his Canberra days with public servants and members of the press gallery. Another highlight of any conference came when John himself would rise to the conference floor to make a point or critique and argument with which he disagreed. He attacked arguments with volcanic force, not to wound but to rebut with passion, because that's how John held his convictions. As one of his children said at his funeral, John didn't care if he hurt feelings; he cared about the integrity of the argument. Nancy held convictions strongly too, but she would temper some of John's rougher edges. Some felt John could be harsh. I never found him so—quite the opposite.”
“They were gatherings of patriots, political leaders, lawyers, judges, academics and Australians from all walks of life interested in our Constitution, its history and ideas about public policy. Although the society was largely conservative, John always insisted on debate. He encouraged speakers from different perspectives because he relished arguments. As Nancy once said to me, 'Debate is the stuff of the Stone household,' and so it was with the Samuel Griffith Society. Some of the most important reflections on Australian public life in the last 50 years were delivered under his leadership: Sir Garfield Barwick on the rule of law, Sir Paul Hasluck on the role of the governor-general, and important critiques of the 1999 republic model and a bill of rights, among other issues. These were not just papers; they often shaped the public debate.”
“I came to know John personally through his intellectual and organisational leadership of the great institutions of conservative thought in Australia. He was a thought leader at the Institute of Public Affairs in the 1980s and 1990s. With the late Sir Harry Gibbs, he co-founded the Samuel Griffith Society, devoted to defending the Australian Constitution, especially from a federalist perspective, and John was an early supporter of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy. John quoted de Tocqueville in describing these groups as launched to advance some truth and foster some feeling about the great questions of our time. The annual meetings of the Samuel Griffith Society under John's leadership became a highlight of my year.”
“I'm too young to remember John's career in the Public Service or the parliament, but I remember first seeing him on television in the early nineties on a program called The Last Shout , hosted by Barrie Cassidy, where John would do battle with some noted leftists—usually Anne Summers, Ros Kelly or Malcolm McGregor. John put his point forcefully, logically and with all the facts at his fingertips. Here was an example of a true lion in debate. He was trenchant, clear, courageous and always entertaining. His crisp language and distinctive intonation made his contributions crisp, compelling and memorable. They were also highly amusing. This was also true of his written contributions in the Australian , the Financial Review and Quadrant .”
“He was at the centre of debates about economic policy when, as now, Australia was grappling with inflation, productivity and the direction of financial markets. His voice helped shape the public conversation about economic reform for nearly 70 years. From there, John entered political life, serving as a National Party senator for Queensland between 1987 and 1990 and as the leader of the National Party in the Senate for the duration of his service. He was also shadow finance minister from 1987 to 1989. After parliament, John became a much-sought-after company director.”
“Born in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia, John was educated at Perth Modern School alongside Bob Hawke and then at the University of Western Australia, where he beat Hawke to become the president of the SRC. John became the 1951 Rhodes scholar for Western Australia and represented his state in hockey. He took out a PPE at Oxford and married Nancy Hardwick, his fellow Western Australian student, the following day. They would be married for 70 years. As an economist, John joined the Commonwealth Treasury in 1954 and rose through the ranks, serving periods in London and Washington, DC, before returning to Canberra. He became Secretary of the Treasury in 1979, a position he held until his resignation in 1984. John's tenure as Secretary of the Treasury also left a lasting mark.”
“I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the passing of John Owen Stone AO on 17 July 2025; (2) notes his extensive contribution to public life, including his service as Secretary to the Treasury, and as a Senator for Queensland; (3) recognises his role in shaping policy and contributing to the national debate on issues from national economic policy and industrial relations to federalism; and (4) extends its sincere condolences to his family and pays tribute to his lifelong dedication to the Australian people. I acknowledge the contributions that will be made by the members for Wide Bay, Bean and Riverina. John Stone was an Australian original, the sort of person our country is fortunate to produce from time to time.”
“I commend the bill to the House and I move: That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words: "whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House urges the Government to establish an additional National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Antisemitism, which: (1) makes it clear to all higher education students, staff and providers that everyone on a higher education campus has a right to be safe; (2) imposes on universities a range of obligations concerning student and staff safety which is very important given the alarming increase in antisemitic incidents on university campuses since 7 October 2023; and (3) ensures that higher education providers must comply with recommendations of the National Student Ombudsman concerning the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Antisemitism".”
“We should also be honest about what we do not yet know. Not every program works in every setting. We should be evidence led and open to refinement. We will judge this reform by outcomes: fewer incidents, higher confidence of students to report, faster and fairer resolutions and a better culture on campus. It behoves all of us in this place to revisit these issues as required in light of the results. Constructive bipartisanship matters here. There is no monopoly on compassion, and there should be no tolerance for complacency. That's the spirit in which the coalition's concerns are raised—concern for results on the ground that will improve the safety of our students and our staff in our centres of higher learning. It is this same spirit that I hope will support the second reading amendment.”
“To universities, whose leadership has failed time and again on so many issues about student safety on campus: while some—and, occasionally, most—of you are doing serious work, this bill should reward the serious and require the rest to lift. To the students and staff across Australia: your right to learn and your right to work in safety are not negotiable. I say that because, when we strip away the acronyms and the architecture, this bill is about dignity, safety and justice for every person who sets foot on a university campus. The coalition supports its purpose and will work to see it succeed, but success will not come from slogans or from centralising power. It will come from implementation. Our focus on this matter cannot be allowed to lapse after today. This isn't a one-and-done bill.”
“A judicial inquiry remains the appropriate way forward for a serious government to identify and root out these issues. I commend to the House the second reading amendment I will shortly be moving. I want to conclude by reiterating the coalition's support for this bill, because the matters I've spoken about today have a common thread. All of my remarks today are addressed at the single basic point that safety on campus is for everyone. This bill is the product of work from groups like Fair Agenda, End Rape on Campus, the Stop Campaign and many others who've been concrete and vocal on this issue for years. I applaud them, and I support them. Their message is simple: safety cannot be optional, and silence cannot be policy. I applaud and support their message.”
“The special envoy has recommended: Should significant problems remain at universities by the start of the 2026 academic year, as assessed by the Envoy's report card, a dedicated judicial inquiry should be undertaken to address systemic issues, including the investigation of foreign sources of funding for antisemitic activities and academics at universities. This report shows that antisemitism is not just a problem of security or law enforcement; it's a cultural and societal cancer that needs attention through our schools, our universities, our media and even the arts. The Segal report confirms what Jewish Australians have been telling us for months: antisemitism has surged to crisis levels while our Prime Minister has refused to act.”
“Of course, the government has had years to act, along with universities, but, unfortunately, to date, it has failed to provide protection, recourse or cultural change. The Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism in Australia, Jillian Segal AO, noted that antisemitism is ingrained and normalised in academia and in cultural spaces. The special envoy has proposed to work with government and grant authorities to withdraw or terminate public funding of universities where antisemitic conduct isn't adequately addressed. Ms Segal is the government's expert adviser on addressing the specific problem of antisemitism, and, after deep consultation, she's produced a clear and practical road map for ending a crisis of 21 months and counting. This is something that can wait no longer.”
“It's a hub for medical centres, offering dentists, orthodontists, optometrists, GPs and physios. For leisure, Epping has gyms and restaurants. It has sporting facilities at Boronia Park. It has the Epping library and the post office, offering vital services to the suburb's growing population. But the one thing it doesn't have is adequate parking to serve the local population and those people who need to visit Epping. Parramatta council has plans to further invigorate the area and create a thriving commercial and community hub, but the message from local families is clear. They won't be able to enjoy these upgrades unless they're accompanied by significant increases in parking options. In my role as the member for Berowra and as the local representative for Epping, I will keep fighting for better parking for Epping. (Time expired)”
“Epping is the growth suburb of my electorate. You only need to look up in the sky and see the apartment buildings nearing completion or look at the vacant lots where apartment buildings are going to go up to know this. Yet, despite its growth, Epping has a major shortage of parking. When I went doorknocking in Epping last week I had the same experience locals face every single day. It took me ages to find a car park. This negatively impacts families and businesses every day. Local cafes and eateries like 2 Bunny's Cafe, Java House and Chicken on Oxford are missing out on business as people drive to other nearby neighbourhood centres that have more parking. Epping's a suburb with great businesses and amenities, from stores like Coles to educational businesses like Summit Music School, Matrix Education, Talent 100 and Intuition Education.”
“First, it would make clear to all higher education students, staff and providers that everyone on a higher education campus has the right to feel safe. Second, it would impose on universities a range of obligations considering student and staff safety, which is very important given the alarming increase in antisemitic incidents on university campuses since 7 October 2023.Third, it would also ensure that higher education providers must comply with the National Student Ombudsman's recommendations concerning the national higher education code to prevent and respond to antisemitism. This is similar to the amendments the coalition moved earlier this year and in the other place. Of course, the government have had years to act, along with universities, but unfortunately to date they have failed to provide protection, recourse or cultural change.”
“Of course the best way the government can address this issue is to adopt our proposal for a judicial inquiry into antisemitism on Australian university campuses—something I brought to this parliament more than a year ago. Only a judicial inquiry presided over by a sitting or retired judge, with silks cross-examining university administrators, will be able to get to the bottom of this. Only a judicial inquiry can seize documents, provide immunities and ensure that we get to the bottom of a cultural issue that has been a feature of university campuses for decades and which has been turbocharged, sadly, since the tragic events of October7. This second reading amendment envisages the creation of a code which has three clear objectives.”
“It's abuse, it's discrimination, it's vilification and it's allowed through to the keeper on the basis of a nod and a wink from the quisling administrators. What we're seeing on university campuses today is the next evolution of a hatred that has endured through human history. It's time for universities to act to stop the abuse, stop the hate and stop the vilification. Just as we're acting on the very real and current safety risks around gender based violence, this is an opportunity to act on the very real and current safety risks around antisemitism. The second reading amendment that I've circulated gives the government an opportunity to join with the coalition in addressing this issue.”
“They've seen an increase in discrimination, harassment and vilification based on their membership of the Jewish community. Why on earth should our campuses be a place where Hamas propaganda is handed out and actively supported? This is spineless leadership from our university administrators. The weakness of their ineffectual response doesn't stop there. As we speak there are universities across the country which have failed to adopt any kind of definition of antisemitism, be it the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition or the Universities Australia definition. This ongoing failure has allowed antisemitic action to flourish, often under the guise that the abuse being hurled at Jewish Australians on campuses is somehow legitimate political commentary on Israel and its policies. The reality on the ground is different.”
“It makes a mockery of the institutions designed to celebrate the truth of human testimony and history. I met with representatives of the Australasian Union of Jewish Students just this morning. As we speak, the National Union of Students is running a referendum on Palestine. As I've said consistently, Australians have the right to advocate for a change in our foreign policy, but some of the rhetoric and campaign materials have actively supported Hamas, an organisation which we in this country list as a terrorist organisation. Speakers have stated that it is their duty to make Jews uncomfortable. Jews are shouted at. Jews are told to go back to Europe. The consequence of the way this referendum has been conducted has been clear and unequivocal for Jewish staff and students.”
“We heard the story of a Jewish student who wore a kippah while walking through campus and was approached by pro-Palestinian protesters asking, 'Do you support the murdering of babies and the genocide in the Middle East?' We've heard the distressingly frequent stories of Jewish students being spat on and taunted with swastikas. In one incident we heard the story of a Jewish academic whose working area was urinated on with the word 'resign' scribbled on their desk. The consistent message in all these incidents is that Jews are not welcome on Australian campuses. And it's not just students and outside activists propagating this; it's professors and PhDs. We've seen academics say, 'Jews don't deserve cultural safety.' We've seen academics deny the rapes of October 7—an approach no different to that of Holocaust denial.”
“There's a sad but necessary requirement to recap some of the horrific and highly targeted abuse that Jewish students and staff have been dealing with on a daily basis since 7 October 2023. We've seen encampments where students chant 'intifada' and 'river to the sea', which the Prime Minister himself acknowledged is a violent and antisemitic phrase. They're deciding who should be allowed access to university buildings based on their religion. We heard the story of a student who, living in on-campus accommodation, held a Shabbat dinner, inviting both Jewish and non-Jewish students to her college. It had nothing to do with Israel-Hamas war; it was simply an opportunity to gather for a meal and share her traditions. But the following morning that student woke up to find Palestinian flags shoved under her door.”
“It's where the next generation of leaders are formed. That's why it is so important that antisemitism doesn't take hold. It's why students need to be taught about the evils of antisemitism. This is why it's always important to reject antisemitism however it manifests. It's not okay to be a bystander. If we're not teaching this to the next generation then we are setting our society on a course for a future based on conspiracy, not fact, on othering, not personal responsibility, and on social discord, not social harmony. We know, from the special envoy's report, that young people under 35 don't recognise the seriousness of antisemitism and don't treat it properly, and that is, in part, because of what is happening at our universities.”
“Jewish Australians have used that freedom and opportunity to contribute to our country. All Australians have the right to enjoy their education, free of harassment and intimidation. Our job is to ensure that the next generation of Jewish students are not discouraged from entering any field of Australian life. As I said in this chamber more than a year ago, there is a particular tragedy about antisemitism on campus which seeks to exclude Jews from the intellectual life of the nation, because Jewish tradition values education as one of the highest virtues. Jews are taught to have arguments for the sake of Heaven and to arrive at truth through debate and discussion. This is the essence of a university. At their best, universities are life-changing places where people get an education and improve their opportunities in life.”
“I have been arguing consistently about this issue for nearly two years now, and I've been arguing against the studied indifference to Jew hatred on our campuses, because the emergence of antisemitism, particularly on our campuses, is one of the most serious threats to our pluralist multicultural democracy. The situation on campus for Jewish students and staff is diabolical. They feel abandoned by those charged with creating a safe place to study, research, teach and work. This is a tragedy for Australia, particularly because, unlike almost anywhere else, Australia has always been welcoming to the Jewish people. From the days of the First Fleet, when a dozen Jewish convicts stumbled ashore at Sydney Cove, Jewish people have had the opportunity to thrive free from discrimination and hatred.”
“That's why we 've circulated the second reading amendment to this bill, which is similar to an amendment that was moved in the last parliament, in the other place, on this bill's predecessor. The coalition's amendment seeks to establish an additional national higher education code to prevent and respond to antisemitism, because, just like the concerns about gender based violence on campus which have led so many to be and feel unsafe, there is also a real and highly damaging wave of antisemitic sentiment on our campuses which is impacting Jewish students, staff, residents and others. The antisemitism code responds to the real and urgent circumstances of antisemitism that students are facing at universities.”
“Since October 7, the increase in antisemitic incidents across Australia, but particularly on campus, has been immediate and catastrophic. University campuses, as I said, must be safe for everyone, and that includes Jewish Australians. We've been clear that more action must be taken by this government not only to respond to the terrible proliferation of gender based violence on university campuses but to deal with antisemitism as well. We've seen clear attempts to silence and intimidate Jewish academics, staff and students, and that's completely unacceptable. We have also been clear that more action must be taken by this government to address the rise of antisemitism on university campuses.”
“I started these remarks by commenting on the absolute right that everyone on a university campus has, be they students, staff or residents. No student should have to choose between their safety and their education. No staff member should have to choose between their safety and their employment. I started by recognising the Universities Australia survey on student safety and gender based violence, and there were some clear and disturbing parallels with another national survey on student safety. This is the subject of the amendments that I have put before the House. In August 2023, a national survey found that 64 per cent of Jewish university students experienced antisemitism. The impacts are immediate: 57 per cent hid their identity and 19 per cent avoided campus due to safety fears. This was before the sickening events of October 7.”
“Sixth, there should be alignment with our broader national effort. The coalition has been clear that it supports the 10-year National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032. This code should dovetail with the national plan and with the state and territory laws. Finally, there needs to be accountability, specifically to this parliament. The code will be made by legislative instrument. That means it is subject to parliamentary oversight. It is for all of us, on all sides, to ensure that the code is a living standard that keeps pace with evidence and with the realities of student life. Again, our success will be measured not by the quality of the code but by the safety on the ground of those who live, work and study on our university campuses.”
“We cannot allow a system to develop where every residence that markets itself through university channels or derives income from university students is subjected to a different standard. Fourth is procedural fairness. A safe system must also be a fair system. In developing the code, the government will need to have regard to clear timeframes, natural justice and fairness to all parties. There should be clear expectations about record keeping and communication—no long silences or lost files. When matters are criminal, the pathway to police must be clear. Fifth, we need to be considering the data that drives change. The 2021 survey told us things we couldn't ignore. The next phase must tell us whether we're improving. The code envisaged by this bill should allow us to identify risks and track progress over time.”
“There must be confidence that this regulator, which would now sit inside the department and which works for the government of the day, is able to be effective. The regulator can't become a quiet clearing house for problems; it must be a lighthouse for standards. Second, there needs to be prevention as well as response. The code should not just be a narrow rule book for postincident procedures; it must also look at the policy interventions that work to prevent gender based violence in the first place. These policies should be evidence led and subject to evaluation so that good practice spreads quickly and poor practice is retired. Third, there needs to be consistency across the whole ecosystem. Many students live in accommodation operated by colleges, affiliates or private providers.”
“The central test for this bill is not whether we can write a worthy code but whether we can deliver practical safety and justice on the ground—on the walk home from a late lecture, in a college residence after hours and in the small moments where a student weighs up whether it's worth reporting it at all. This is why the coalition supports a strong, enforceable framework. But strength isn't measured only by the breadth of ministerial powers; it's measured by independence, transparency, due process and results. I want to talk about a few considerations that I hope are taken into account in developing the code. First, there's independence, an issue that I referred to earlier. If the government insists on housing compliance inside the department, then parliament must build the guiderails.”
“The coalition does have some concerns about placing regulatory responsibility within the department rather than strengthening the independent regulator, TEQSA. The coalition notes that embedding this function within the department risks politicising regulation and undermining confidence and impartial enforcement. The minister is granted broad powers to set and enforce the code via legislative instrument. However, we are committed to supporting new initiatives in the higher education sector that aim to prevent and respond more effectively to the pervasive issue of gender based violence at university campuses. The coalition, again, acknowledges the work of advocates like Fair Agenda, End Rape on Campus and the STOP campaign to improve the safety of students and staff on campus.”
“These are composite stories that have been deliberately released to the public as part of the qualitative report that was part of the National Student Safety Survey. They are shocking. They are serious. They underscore the failures of leadership that we've seen time and again at our universities, and they also underscore the significance of the matter we're dealing with today. This bill is necessary because the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, TEQSA, has failed to hold universities accountable for their actions. TEQSA does have existing powers to highlight university failures but didn't act, and the minister didn't strengthen TEQSA's powers or hold the regulator to account. This bill will establish a specialist unit within the Department of Education to act as the new regulator.”
“A year later, Monita was put in a position of protecting other students from unwanted sexual advances. The onus for protecting other students should never have gone to her. There are stories like that of Sonya, who was sexually assaulted by her same-sex partner on campus, triggering post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, but for whom the frameworks in place didn't allow her to report her experience. There are stories like that of Sarah, who was assaulted during her second week on campus—her second week—but was told that the report process may take months to be resolved and whose personal information was disclosed to the perpetrator by university authorities. Sarah moved towns and universities and continues to deal with the mental health impacts. She says that she will never feel safe again.”
“Zara had the courage to raise these issues with the head of department but was told to block the phone number of the accused and asked to no longer attend school seminars or social events as no-one could guarantee her safety from this person. For the next two years, she didn't attend an academic seminar on campus. There are stories like that of Yasmin, whose friends were sexually assaulted by a residential advisor after drinking. When Yasmin and her friends reported the incident, they were cautioned against impacting the perpetrator's future at the student residence. The perpetrator was required to attend some educational seminars but largely faced no disciplinary consequences. There are stories like that of Monita, who was sexually assaulted on an off-campus first-year camp by another first-year student.”
“It's worth recapping now some of these anonymised case studies, which have been published as composite case studies precisely to avoid further traumatising victims. They make for shocking reading, and they highlight the seriousness of what we're talking about. I want to talk about some of them now because they emphasise the weight of the matters that we're considering as legislators. There are stories like that of Zara, who was repeatedly harassed by a non-academic university staff member during her time on campus. The staff member sent her unwanted text messages, commenting on her appearance and stereotypes about women from her country of origin.”
“I want to spend a few moments talking about the National Student Safety Survey conducted by Universities Australia in 2021. The survey reported some very alarming figures. The survey found that one in six students had been sexually harassed since starting university and, shockingly, one in 20 had been sexually assaulted. Around half of all students who had experienced sexual assault and sexual harassment knew nothing or very little about where to seek help or formal reporting processes. I encourage everyone in this chamber to read the National Student Safety Survey's qualitative report. The report is heavy reading. It includes composite case studies—stories which bring home the shocking failures in student safety from gender based violence on our campuses.”
“I want to begin by thanking my friend the Member for Newcastle for facilitating my participation in this debate on what is a busy day in the House. I rise to speak on the Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) Bill 2025 and the cognate Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2025, and I will be moving the amendment circulated in my name. The coalition supports these bills and, of course, their purpose, which is to establish a national code to prevent and respond to gender based violence in higher education. They affirm that everyone on a university campus, be they students or staff, and residents as well, has the absolute right to be safe.”
“Benjamin's passion for learning and his commitment to helping others show he's already on the path to inspiring the next generation of learners. Congratulations to the Beecroft Rotary Club, and particular congratulations to Daniel Dummer, their retiring president, and also to Isha Deodhar, who is about to take on the reins.”
“Creativity and drive in our people should be recognised, as people like Ruhaani will be the problem solvers of the next generation. Sanuki Fernando, a year 11 student at Cheltenham Girls' High School, was named Young Changemaker of the Year for her advocacy and leadership. Sanuki is the kind of student who reminds us what it means to stand up for others and work towards lasting change. Young Creator of the Year went to two outstanding people, Joanna Cheng from Cheltenham Girls' High School and Ava Muir from Loreto Normanhurst. Their creative talents are a clear local stand-out, and I hope they continue to contribute their creativity to our local area and arts scene. Finally, the Bill Grant Memorial Award for Future Educator of the Year was presented to Benjamin Jesperson, a year 11 student at St Leo's Catholic College.”
“As shadow minister for the arts, I want to see the pipeline of the development of young artists being particularly healthy, so it's wonderful to see Ella and Anita showing off their talent on the world stage. In the world of STEM, Emma Peters from Mount St Benedict College took out Young Person in STEM of the Year. In a rapidly changing world, when we hear stories of fewer students undertaking STEM subjects, young people like Emma give us confidence that there will be a generation of scientists, engineers and innovators stepping up. Young Environmentalist of the Year was awarded to Annaliese Dunn, also from Mount St Benedict College, reminding us that protecting our environment starts young and starts locally. Young Entrepreneur of the Year was awarded to Ruhaani Chadha, who's in year 11 at Mount St Benedict College.”
“Young Sportsperson of the Year award was shared between two very impressive young people, Sarah Hicks, who's in year 11 at Mount St Benedict College, and Mayher Singh, who's in year 12 at Turramurra High School. Both have shown real dedication and perseverance in their sporting pursuits, balancing their studies with training and competition. Young Journalist of the Year was awarded to year 12 student Mia Burdack, who, I have no doubt, we'll be hearing lots more from, covering groundbreaking stories and shedding light on local heroes in the years ahead. The performing arts were well represented, too, with Ella Beattie and Anita Trairattanasirikul, both in year 12 at Loreto Normanhurst, jointly awarded Young Performing Artist of the Year.”
“It was a real privilege to attend and present awards at the Beecroft Rotary Youth Awards. These awards are an initiative of the Beecroft Rotary Club as a way of encouraging and celebrating the remarkable young people in our community who have gone above and beyond for the future of our community. I presented the Youth Volunteer of the Year award to Chenuli Jayasekara, a year 12 student at Loreto Normanhurst. Chenuli is simply outstanding in her commitment to community service. From supporting a local orphanage in Sri Lanka through to volunteering in our community with St John Ambulance, she's made service part of her everyday life.”
“It is so important because we cannot allow the stigma of mental health and suicide to silence people. We must encourage Australians, when they get that sixth sense that something is wrong, to ask their friends directly, 'Are you contemplating suicide?' and take their friend to get the help that they need.”
“Not only does that impact those seeking support from our health system, but it significantly impacts the wellbeing of those trying to provide essential care and support. Adam's story and his advocacy are a reflection that we have so much more to do to make the system work in our community. That's why I'm calling on the New South Wales government and the federal government to invest more in the Hornsby mental health unit and the associated community wraparound programs so that we can properly deal with mental health and suicide prevention in the Berowra electorate. Adam's story is one of resilience, but, more than that, his willingness to talk openly about his challenges in mental health is something that is so important in today's society.”