Mr REPACHOLI (Hunter) (10:58): This year, students in my electorate of Hunter took part in the Raise our Voice campaign, and today I want to read a speech from Ella:

A lack of suitable housing and ever-growing interest rates have single-handedly cost Australians millions of dollars a year, money which is not helping its citizens, but making the current crisis much worse.

Did you know that over one-third of Australian citizens find it difficult to live on their current salary?

That is nearly 9 million Australians.

The high demand and low supply is destroying the housing market, while rising interest rates are frightening buyers and Australians are starting to see the effects.

Without action, within ten years, living in Australia will become so expensive that many people will be forced to migrate, leaving Australians who are willing to stay with a decade of debt and irreparable economic damage.

The Australian people are praying for a change, whether the government works with banks to decrease interest rates or provide further subsidies for people willing to build housing, something needs to change, and it needs to be now.

A change needs to work towards the idea that people can live in our country without the worry of paying more in rent or mortgages than they are earning.

Without a reasonable solution, soon the Australian population will be on the receiving end of unrepairable financial damage.

Thanks, Ella, for raising these very important issues.