The Muslim Leadership Program (MLP) is an annual program co-coordinated by the Centre for Dialogue at La Trobe University and the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV).

Tonight I want to speak about two very important events that I have been involved in, which are of particular benefit for young people—not only in my own electorate but to young people across the country and indeed around the world. This afternoon I had the great pleasure as the co-convenor of the parliamentary friendship group for raising breast cancer awareness amongst young adults to help launch a mobile phone app designed to encourage and help young people to conduct and manage their monthly breast examinations. The Young Adult program, or YAP App, as it is known, has the backing of Google and is the brainchild of the late Peter Hill, the wonderful son of a very dear friend of mine, Roz Hill, who is herself the founder and CEO of YAP. Roz is a breast cancer survivor and has been a tireless advocate for raising breast cancer awareness amongst men and women. She is an amazing inspiration, a woman who is a no-nonsense advocate who quietly goes about her work in a very low-key but very effective manner. I first met Roz some 10 years ago when she embarked on a campaign up here in this place to have breast prosthetics put on the Medicare rebate for those women who had to have mastectomies. Some 10 years later Roz is still advocating the vital importance of early detection. The friendship group, which I co-convene with (read more)

In light of the disappointing developments in the Senate on Tuesday night, which saw the Palmer United Party assist the government senators to scrap important financial advice regulations, I want to highlight the case of a constituent in my electorate whose life has been turned upside down as a result of rogue financial advisor and, in doing so, highlight the value of the Labor government's reforms to the financial sector that have now been scrapped.Bernard Kelly came to my office last week to describe to us the ongoing heartache he is suffering in the wake of the collapse of Timbercorp.

He is not alone. There are thousands of Australians who have lost their hard-earned life savings, homes, and, most distressingly, in some cases, lives as a result of poor and even corrupt financial advice. We have heard some of these stories during the debate on the FoFA reforms, during the Senate inquiry last week and during discussions in light of the Murray inquiry. The details of one person's suffering can never fail to move us or remind us why we are fighting for proper consumer protection and why we need to continue to fight for it.

I rise to emphasise the importance of investing properly in universities and tertiary education and ensuring that access to higher education is determined by ability and not family income. I do so because it is one of my key commitments as a Labor member of parliament. I do so because I have had an overwhelming number of pleas to defend and extend our support for universities from my constituents. I do so because access to quality higher education is one of the most fundamental requirements for ensuring equality of opportunity and fulfilment of personal potential. And I do so because it is one of the most fundamental foundations for a progressive, dynamic and growing economy and nation.