5 years ago
NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE
BILL SHORTEN MP
It’s a great pleasure to wish all Australians a Happy New Year.
I hope wherever you are, you have the chance to start 2019 in the embrace of friends and family.
In particular, I want to thank everyone who will be working over the day and night to make sure the rest of us can celebrate and do so safely.
In 2018, Australia was tested by fire and floodwaters, by drought and hardship, by terror and tragedy.
But in the face of disaster our people stood strong, in the shadow of evil our communities held together and when times were toughest, neighbours and strangers could count on each other.
As ever, the greatness of our country revealed itself not in the high places of power and privilege but in the hearts of our citizens. As always, we found inspiration in the character and courage of everyday Australians.
Traditionally, the beginning of a new year is a time to reflect, take stock and resolve to improve.
In 2018, Australians had every right to feel let down by politics, every right to feel that too many of their elected representatives were only in it for themselves.
In 2019, all of us who have the remarkable privilege to serve in the federal parliament have a responsibility to do better, to rebuild faith in our democracy by demonstrating that politics can still make a positive difference to the daily lives of our fellow Australians.
This isn’t merely a matter of lifting the standard of our democracy, it’s about putting forward ideas and solutions to the challenges facing our people and our nation. Because, simply put, our whole country is a better, smarter, more prosperous place, when all our citizens have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
In this new year, let us work to ensure the old, quintessentially Australian promise of a fair go is extended to people of all ages, all faiths, all backgrounds and in every part of the country we love.
Chloe and I wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy start to 2019.
I hope wherever you are, you have the chance to start 2019 in the embrace of friends and family.
In particular, I want to thank everyone who will be working over the day and night to make sure the rest of us can celebrate and do so safely.
In 2018, Australia was tested by fire and floodwaters, by drought and hardship, by terror and tragedy.
But in the face of disaster our people stood strong, in the shadow of evil our communities held together and when times were toughest, neighbours and strangers could count on each other.
As ever, the greatness of our country revealed itself not in the high places of power and privilege but in the hearts of our citizens. As always, we found inspiration in the character and courage of everyday Australians.
Traditionally, the beginning of a new year is a time to reflect, take stock and resolve to improve.
In 2018, Australians had every right to feel let down by politics, every right to feel that too many of their elected representatives were only in it for themselves.
In 2019, all of us who have the remarkable privilege to serve in the federal parliament have a responsibility to do better, to rebuild faith in our democracy by demonstrating that politics can still make a positive difference to the daily lives of our fellow Australians.
This isn’t merely a matter of lifting the standard of our democracy, it’s about putting forward ideas and solutions to the challenges facing our people and our nation. Because, simply put, our whole country is a better, smarter, more prosperous place, when all our citizens have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
In this new year, let us work to ensure the old, quintessentially Australian promise of a fair go is extended to people of all ages, all faiths, all backgrounds and in every part of the country we love.
Chloe and I wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy start to 2019.