The ASSISTANT PRESIDENT (The Hon. Peter Primrose): I welcome to the gallery guests of the Hon. Aileen MacDonald: Valentina Hurtado Diaz, Juan Diaz and Chelsea Burgess Hannon.

The Hon. AILEEN MacDONALD (21:55): I share the story of a young Australian who represents the best and brightest of us. Her name is Valentina Hurtado Diaz. I have had the pleasure of hosting her as an intern in my office over the past few months. Valentina is a fourth-year student of Arts, International Relations, and Advanced Studies in Politics at the University of Sydney. She is a positive and talented young woman and the daughter of immigrants. I fully support multiculturalism, and Valentina has captured her experience in this place in a report, which exposes some flaws in the system that I believe are worth raising in the House. Valentina's family has done well in this country, but it has not been without its challenges. Valentina wrote:

For over three months, I've had the privilege of serving in the NSW Parliament—an experience that initially felt like an impossible dream as an immigrant, but with time miraculously unfolded. Unlike my father 13 years ago, I have been blessed these past three months with a great number of opportunities, for which I am profoundly grateful to the Hon. Aileen MacDonald and her team.

It took me just two sitting days surrounding the February Budget Estimates to realise the significant disparity between academic knowledge and the practical art of parliamentary proceedings, in many ways mirroring the vast disparity between government assurances and the reality of poor integration programs for immigrants.

My parents were confronted with a system that offered little guidance or support for transferring their internationally based skills into the Australian context, despite arriving on a skills-sponsored PR visa, they were professionals who found themselves grappling with the high cost of living. They were compelled to rely on their physical abilities to sustain a decent lifestyle.

My father was a 26-year veteran of the Air Force with expertise in finance and accounting but was told upon his arrival 13 years ago that he wasn't skilled enough.

Immigrants constitute 27% of the workforce in sectors experiencing skill shortages, such as machinery operation, trades, labour, and transportation. Their entrepreneurial spirit and innovative ideas stimulate business growth. Standing among the 30% of immigrants who launched businesses is my father, with his goods transportation company that operates across NSW.

Thirteen years ago, after paying $50,000 for their visas and resettlement, my parents felt they were failed, left alone with no community and no support. Neglected by their government and society, receiving nothing further than occasional reminders of their skill deficiencies during monthly calls from job seeker programs.

It should have been easier for the kids. My brother certainly hoped so. However, instead, he found himself thrust into an entirely new education system in the Shire, with no other kids to relate to and minimal support from the ESL program.

To comply with the program, he was excluded from sports days, further isolating him, and making it difficult to integrate with Australian kids. Left to fend for himself, he faced discrimination and bullying due to his prominent Colombian accent.

I implore Members of Parliament, as policymakers and budget drafters, to consider those individuals entering Australia daily. Immigrants are assets to our country, but they require YOUR support to do the best they can for Australia. There must be no more exclusion, no more division, no travel bans, and certainly no populist ideas.

I know the Minister of Home Affairs and the President of this Chamber are keen to hear more uplifting stories showcasing successful social integration by immigrants in our community. I sincerely hope that such positive transformations can take place, and that the reality for newcomers in Australia vastly contrasts that of my own.

Yes, it is emotional, but Valentina has articulated some interesting thoughts, not all of them palatable. But I believe it is important to hear from our youth, from their perspective. Indeed, this is the sort of feedback which helps keep us in check and ensure that we are all more inclusive.