Mr REPACHOLI (Hunter) (19:49):

Today I want to read speeches from three amazing young people from my electorate who've written about issues they are passionate about for the Raise Our Voice campaign.

Jade wrote about mental health. She says:

In ten years I want my country, my world, to be a happier, healthier and safer.

I would like to see members of my community getting the mental health help they need.

1 in 6 Australians have had serious thoughts of killing themselves.

It is in the top three leading causes of death for people under 35.

These statistics need to change, and for this change we need serious action.

Do we have enough services give everyone who suffers with their mental health the help they need, are we going to let these people die, feeling alone and miserable? There are 52,130 same day and 205,220 overnight public hospital mental health-related hospitalisations in 2021-22.

In 2022-23, 3% per cent of presentations to public Emergency departments were mental health-related.

If that many people need to go to the HOSPITAL, I just wonder how many others need help.

It is crucial that parliament do something for mental health, lives are at stake, families wellbeing are at risk! 54% of people who have a mental illness do not access any treatment.

At least one in five people with severe mental illness are unable to recognise they have an illness.

So with people who don't access treatment, and people who think they don't need it, that's a lot of people who aren't getting care.

Thanks, Jade, Mikaela and Zara and everyone else that took the time to write speeches for the Raise Our Voice campaign. I just want to let you know that everybody in this place is listening to you. We are hearing what is being said from these and we hope to see change in the future. All 151 members of this place want to make Australia a better place, so please know that we are thinking of you when you say these things.