Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Assistant Minister for the Public Service, Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Acknowledgements omitted
If I can acknowledge everyone in this room, one way or another, that makes these awards such a success.
These awards tell our national story, not through government reports or statistics, but through our people.
They are about our stories, and they are about hope for our future, and you have seen that tonight.
If I look at what Theresa Mitchell said to us, she started off what became a bit of a rolling theme - of unconditional love.
And she particularly paid tribute to those 350 volunteers, and said what she did would not happen without them, reminding us that we all have to work together.
We had Nedd Brockmann - and as a Western Australian, not everyone runs from Western Australia away to New South Wales, sometimes people come in the other direction as well.
But you started by saying you were humbled and grateful, and you recognised you have had a mother that "loved the hell out of me", and that struck.
And Nedd recognised that not everyone has that, but also that giving is a thousand times better than taking, and shares that message.
I think again, that ties everyone in this room, past recipients, current recipients, maybe even some future recipients, together.
Professor Henry Brodaty talked about an incredible story, being welcomed to this country as a one year old with nothing, and then contributing back a million fold through the creation of Dementia Australia.
And I feel that we are going to hear a lot more about this Yes Brainer in the days and weeks ahead as we lead into Australia Day, because people who have good ideas - as you see on this stage - are genuinely unstoppable.
And then Dr Alison Thompson, who concludes us with a message.
A message I think you would want every Australian to be able to take away, quote: "I love Australia, and I love spreading that around the world."
Isn't that great?
Just absolute love of this country, and that is really what these awards are all about.
It is finding those moments where we can be proud of this nation, seeing the absolute strength that sits within our people.
Reminding us that pride in this country should not be boastful, but hopeful of what you can contribute back to your fellow Australians, and that those Australian values do not stop at our continental shelf.
Those Australian values can carry to any corner of the world.
I think as we all leave tonight, we will leave prouder of this state, prouder of this country, and prouder of our fellow Australians.
Once again, congratulations.
