Amid the hoopla of the budget this week, you might have missed a powerful speech delivered by independent Tasmanian Senator, Jacqui Lambie.
Voting against the Government’s proposed legislation to hike up uni fees, Lambie said “we aren’t living in the land of opportunity yet” and that many Australian kids in regional areas were being left behind.
“I’ll be damned if I vote to tell those rural and regional areas of Tasmania that they deserve to have their opportunities suffocated in a way they’d never even know. I’m not doing it, I’ll never do that,” she said vehemently shaking her head.
“I don’t care what you offer. You can offer me a billion bucks for Tasmania, but I won’t sell out our kids.”
“I refuse to be the vote that tells poor kids out there, those sitting on that fine line, that no matter how gifted, no matter how determined you are, you might as well dream a little cheaper. Because you can’t afford it.”
If you haven’t already watched, do yourself a favour:
It wasn’t like I chose not to go to uni. I don’t remember ever making that choice. Growing up like I did, where I did, you didn’t see it as an option.
— Jacqui Lambie (@JacquiLambie) October 7, 2020
Uni was for other people. Other people who don’t live in public housing, with dads who don’t drive trucks. pic.twitter.com/W4soKOJ1sy