This is Youth Voice in Parliament Week, coordinated by Raise Our Voice Australia. I'd like to thank all the wonderful young people of Mackellar who submitted speeches. It was great to hear your thoughts and ideas, and I encourage you to keep speaking up.
Today, I'm reading a remarkable speech by Tasman Cowper, who is 11 years old:
"Imagine a world where we can harness the power of the earth itself to create clean and renewable energy. That's exactly what we'll be exploring today as we dive into the fascinating world of geothermal energy. Geothermal energy taps into the earth's natural heat beneath our feet. It's a bit like using the earth as a giant battery, and it's clean and renewable. Australia has immense geothermal potential, with hot rocks hidden deep underground. By investing in geothermal energy we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
This isn't just about saving the environment; it's also about creating jobs and securing our future. Geothermal power plants require engineers, scientists and technicians to build and maintain them. This means jobs for Australians, especially in rural areas where these resources are abundant. Imagine a future where Australia leads the way in clean energy, where our air is clean and our climate is stable. It's a future I dream of. Let's take this step towards a cleaner, greener, Australia together".