Youngest senator describes battle with depression
Rachel Jackson, Andrew Brown and Tess Ikonomou |
Australia’s youngest senator has spoken of the deep shame she felt over her struggles with depression, vowing to bring empathy and understanding to her new job.
In her first speech to parliament on Monday, Labor senator Charlotte Walker also hit back at the critics who claimed she wasn’t old enough to be a parliamentarian.
“I reply that I have 21 years of life experience,” she said.
The South Australian turned 21 at the May 3 election and won the third upper house seat in her state for Labor.
Senator Walker described her battle with depression, which she previously only told a few people about due to the perception of being “damaged goods”.
“I want to shine a light on how childhood experiences like mine can continue to affect your mental health into adulthood and explore meaningful ways to address this,” she said.
Housing, youth mental health and climate change were among the key issues Senator Walker pledged to advocate for during her term.
Senator Walker’s election to parliament comes amid a sharp decline in Australian young people’s knowledge and understanding of government processes.
Civics education outcomes are at their lowest point in 20 years, according to the latest national data, which House of Representatives Speaker Milton Dick said was a major concern.
The increasing disconnect between young people and their knowledge of government is a sign Australia’s democracy is under pressure, Mr Dick told attendees at Monday’s launch of a national youth parliament.
“This isn’t good enough,” he said.
“Australia is one of the strongest democracies in the world, and these numbers aren’t just statistics.”
The youth parliament program builds on state government schemes to offer hands-on experiences, including debating and workshops.
A selection of 150 students aged 16 and 17 will be chosen from each federal electorate for the first five-day event in August 2026.
The youth program’s launch was among the first items on the agenda for the upcoming fortnight of federal parliament, where health, housing and wages are expected to dominate.
Fresh from outlining ideas for long-term reform at its productivity roundtable, the government will shift focus to several key election promises as it settles into its second-term agenda.
Laws cutting the cost of prescriptions on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to $25 will be back up for debate during the fortnight.
Measures formally enshrining penalty rates are also set to pass the parliament as part of a workplace rights push.
AAP
