TRANSCRIPT:
Nine year old Maahi Verma wants to see herself reflected in public life.
"When I watch the news... the news people would have blonde hair and blue eyes. Then my mum showed me a photo of politicians, they're white, old, men. So I want to know why don't people who are making decisions about me, look like me?"
She sent a letter to her local MP - which was read aloud in Parliament by former Liberal MP Gladys Liu in 2021.
"My mummy says that people who come on TV make decisions about my life. They decide what my future is going to be like. So if that's true I want people who look like me to make decisions about me. I also want to feel important. I also want to be heard. This is about my future."
A number of MPs and Senators have continued what is now a four-year tradition of sharing letters from children across the country.
There were 370 speeches in total, with over 500 [[532]] young people aged under 25 contributing to them.
Among the MPs to take part was Labor Senator Karen Grogan:
"Schools could have afternoon clubs that adults, including elderly people, could visit to get help with digital technology problems."
There was also Independent MP Helen Haines:
"In rural and farming communities we suffer a severe lack of access to health care. Within my area I know of many people waiting months for a doctor's appointment."
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson Young:
"Without immediate action there is no future to wish for."
And Independent Senator David Pocock.
"This year's speech comes from Emily. Here is how I envisage the world a decade from you. In ten years I will be 26. I hope to own a home that is part of a suburb running on clean energy. I hope to live in a community where sustainability is a priority."
The Senator is also proposing a Duty of Care bill that he hopes will elevate the voices of these young people.
"They're saying hang on, take us seriously. Take our concerns seriously."
There are 227 politicians in federal parliament - but just six of them are under the age of 35.
Ash is the founder of the Raise our Voices campaign - and says too often young people are underestimated.
"I think young people have been underestimated for generations. We often talk about them as if they're the leaders of tomorrow. The reality is they're leading today and they will also be leading tomorrow."
That includes 11 year old Rehan Rahman, for whom the cost of living crisis is front of mind.
"Children and families are the hardest hit by this crisis. Many young kids cannot eat nutritious food let alone get the sustenance they need to reach their potential every day."
For those involved in the campaign, the impact is clear.
MAAHI: "After the speech everyone started clapping; It made me feel really important."
REHAN: "I feel very proud that something I have created is being read out by my local MP, and very hopeful that some action could be taken on this issue - and that maybe I directly made some change."
