“Politicians have a responsibility not to inflame division or misrepresent the facts, and to show leadership to counter views that would demonise asylum seekers or abrogate Australia’s international obligations…The facts are that Australia’s current refugee intake of about 13,750 a year is small by international standards and forms less than 10% of our total permanent migration intake. Boat arrivals deemed to be refugees make up an even smaller proportion of that – less than 2% of all migrants to Australia.”
“Being human is difficult. Becoming human is a lifelong process. To be truly human is a gift.”
“While Australia was the first country to give women the right to stand as well as to vote for the national parliament, Finland was the second. And Finland immediately elected nineteen women to its parliament (in 1907) while Australia had essentially given women the right to stand but not to sit. It was not until 1943 that the first women took their seats in Australia’s national parliament.”
“Society is indeed a contract – becomes a partnership not only between those who are living, but between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born.”
“Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.”
“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
“…there is no tool for development more effective than the education of girls.”
“It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.”
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
“To positively discriminate in favour of groups that have been negatively discriminated against in the past.”
