Speeches
Tuesday, 15 July 2025
Reception for YMCA SA 30th Youth Parliament
Rod and I are delighted to welcome you to Government House.
It is fitting that we meet here today to celebrate your participation in the 30th YMCA Youth Parliament, a program that invites you to learn how government works and to step into that process with your own voice and ideas.
As Governor, my role is described through the three C’s: Constitutional, Ceremonial, and Community.
All three are reflected here tonight.
In this House, I meet with Cabinet ministers in Executive Council to give formal assent to Bills passed by Parliament, making them law.
I swear in Ministers and support the ongoing work of Parliament.
Ceremonially, this is where we celebrate milestones and honour service.
Through my Community role, I engage with South Australians from all walks of life - including all of you here today.
These acts are central to the functioning of our democracy and reflect the same principles you are exploring through Youth Parliament.
This program gives you the opportunity to take part in serious debate, to consider policy through the lens of responsibility, and to start forming the habits of civic leadership.
It also helps build lifelong skills like critical thinking, public speaking, negotiation, and an understanding of civic duty.
This week you will debate Bills on housing, cultural education, disability inclusion, healthcare, the environment, and workplace equity.
These are challenges that affect the lives of many South Australians and require empathy, evidence, and deep listening.
One of Youth Parliament’s greatest strengths is the diversity of its participants.
You come from different regions, cultures, communities, and backgrounds, each of you bringing lived experience and a different way of seeing long-standing challenges.
This diversity enriches debate and reminds us that better policy emerges when we listen beyond our own viewpoints - to regional communities, First Nations peoples, people with disability, and culturally diverse South Australians.
Equally important is how you conduct yourselves - with integrity, fairness, and respect.
These values build trust in our institutions and keep democracy strong.
As a former diplomat and head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, I’ve learned that effective leaders listen deeply, stay open to new ideas, and remain committed to the common good.
True leadership means building trust, finding common ground, and working persistently - often quietly - to create solutions that serve others, not just yourself.
And in my role as Governor, I continue to see the value in these qualities, including through the Governor’s Civics Awards and Rod’s and my school visits, where we meet students across the state.
Together, they reveal a generation of youth who bring sharp insight, a deep sense of fairness, and the courage to challenge the status quo.
Youth Parliament powerfully reflects what democracy can be: people from every part of the state, each contributing something unique, working together to shape a more equitable future.
I thank YMCA South Australia and the Youth Parliament Taskforce for their commitment to mentoring young leaders and fostering civic education.
What makes this program so special is that even after three decades it continues to be volunteer-led, created by young people for young people.
To the participants, thank you for your commitment, your leadership, and your voices.
I hope you will all stay in touch through my Facebook and Instagram pages and learn more about the role of the Governor and how the achievements and service of all South Australians are recognised.
And perhaps one day we will see you in Parliament or even in this House, serving the state in new ways.