Mr REPACHOLI (Hunter) (13:46) 

This year, students in my electorate wrote speeches about issues they are passionate about for the Raise Our Voice campaign.

Today I want to read another of those speeches, this time from 13-year-old Ella, who has written about the important issue of sexual harassment in Australia:

I want to make a change in Australian communities and regions.

Sexual harassment is a major issue and is largely overlooked.

Women should feel safe in their own homes, schools, and most of all their communities.

Research has shown that young women are more likely to be to experience sexual harassment and stalking than older women or men.

The sexual violence statistics show that approximately one out of eight or 1.3 million Australian women have experienced sexual harassment in Australia.

We need to instil confidence in our young women that their voices will be heard and safety will be ensured when they seek help against sexual harassment as many young women fear speaking up due to threats or fear of being oppressed.

As a young woman who has experienced sexual harassment, my greatest hope is that in 10 years, women feel comfortable and safe in the community but that can't happen if we don't come together as a nation and take action, now.

Thank you for your speech, Ella. It is an important issue that we all must pay attention to. I have two young daughters myself, and I would hate for them to have to feel this way as well. We need to make sure we do our best to do what we need to do to make sure that women—and everybody else—are safe in our community.