Senator Dorinda Cox amplifies Alicia's voice on racial equality

Joining the 2024 Youth Voice in Parliament campaign, Senator Dorinda Cox (WA) amplified the voice of 17 year old Alicia on racial equality. Speech transcript is below -
"I have always had a somewhat complicated relationship with multiculturalism in Australia. Whilst I am uplifted by the presence of various cultures, ethnicities, and identities that are present throughout our communities, I still feel a niggling sense of unease settle in the atmosphere whenever topics of racial inequality are brought forward. Some question whether Reconciliation is necessary. Some say that we have already done enough, and that racism no longer divides us like it used to. Some think that what's passed is passed, and that we should look forward instead of dwelling on what has already happened. But in doing so, we are moving into a future that has still not dismantled the system of institutionalised racism against minority groups. Looking at various collections of data that can be found with a quick google search, it is evident that career and educational opportunities for people of colour, especially Indigenous Australians, are significantly lower. And as we know all too well, these economic and social disadvantages are passed down from generation to generation, further entrenching racial inequalities in our society. In all honesty, I don’t know what actions can be taken by the parliament to fix racism, because it is a constant process that requires everyone’s willingness to listen, learn, and accept confronting truths. By facilitating open discussions with different demographics, giving marginalised voices local and national platforms, and by promoting an open-minded attitude when it comes to matters of race, our social landscape will be drastically changed in 10 years’ time. In the next 10 years, I hope to see communities that aren't afraid to speak about race. Communities that are brave and open to feeling slightly awkward and uncomfortable when facing their own privileges, and instead of shying away from these conversations, join together to better understand how we can make our nation more fair, safe, and equal."