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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 1 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 32 ..

MS DUNDAS (continuing):

I am 23. I do not own a pair of Nikes. I do not attack old ladies. I crave to be understood and respected, as opposed to being dismissed out of hand or ignored. My views and my voice are important, and I have the power and ability to say this.

There are many more young people who feel the same but who are ignored, who are dismissed. We must recognise that young people are not just the future-we are part of the now. Young people use buses, young people walk through our town centres, young people are part of this community. What we think and what we feel are the results of our experience, just as valid and worthy as everyone else's. I hope that I can use my time in this Assembly to remind people of this fact, until it becomes innate.

A commissioner for children and young people could help in this struggle, and I hope that this Assembly will recognise the benefit of such a commission and work with me and young people through the community to make this a reality.

Now I would like to move on to the self-indulgent bit. When people complete theses, they are told to keep the thank yous short. As this is not a thesis, I am afraid I am going to take a little bit longer. There are an almost infinite number of people who have helped shape me into the person I am today, and I am sure that countless more will help me in my continuing path. I would like to briefly single out a few for thanks.

Thanks to the teachers of the ACT public school system, in particular, Mr Rugendyke-and no, it is a different one-Mrs Broom and Ian Foster, who are passionate teachers, all of chemistry, surprisingly. I am proud to say that I am a product of the ACT public school system, and my teachers are a big part of that. I would also like to add my thanks to the patient academics at ANU, and I hope that I have not worn out my welcome with them.

I would also like to mention the teachers who taught me how to dance. They taught me not just about dance but about myself and my capabilities: thanks to Jill, Michelle, Nicole and Melissa.

Thanks also go to the ANU Democrats on campus, specifically James and Melissa, for enticing me into a political club by using pizza. I thank also some of the political and journalistic types that I have met through my time at the ANU students association: Katie, Brendan, Michael, Daniel, Jason, Harry, Helen and Russell. We did not always get along, but from you all, in different ways, I have learned the reality of politics.

As an attempt to get them fired by mentioning them in a Democrat speech, I would like to thank Scott Ryan, John Snaden, Scott Pearce and Andrew Bell for constantly reminding me that people do have differing views and opinions and that the ability to express these articulately does not make them right.

I also thank my new staff, Merri and Llewellyn, who I hope will keep me sane through this week, and those who have had the faith to hire and guide me, Michelle Beg and Jenness Gardner.

Now on to my party: thanks to all of the ACT campaign team and candidates, particularly Charlie, Lynne, Russell, Anthony, Peta and Sylvia. We, as a team, have finally made it into this Assembly and we are not going anywhere. I would also like to

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