It is wonderful to be back here again at Telethon.
I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we’re meeting, and pay my respect to Elders, past, present, and emerging.
I acknowledge too, the most important people who are involved in tonight’s event and the events over the next 36 hours – the kids we’re helping, represented by the fabulous little stars that we saw before in the video, Aidan, Olivia, and Paige.
This is indeed a celebration of all of their young lives and the other lives of the young people that we will help over this weekend.
Their joy, their happiness, and their potential.
We love them, and they need our help through medical care and research, something our nation is so good at.
So, let’s give them that support.
And let’s also recognise the thousands of community volunteers and workplace givers who make this wonderful charity work so brilliantly.
And of course the nurses, doctors, medical researchers, and children’s services organisations whose loving, caring efforts we are here to support.
Can we please give all of those people a round of applause.
Thank you also to my friend Premier Cook and his state ministers and MPs who are with him this evening, to the federal ministers and parliamentarians who are with us this evening as well, and of course to Kerry Stokes, Channel Seven, and The West, Coles, Crown, all the sponsors for once again getting behind this event with such enthusiasm.
Without them, of course, this would not be possible.
So, tonight, the biggest state in the world hosts the biggest telethon in the world to show its people have the biggest heart in the world.
59 years, raising over $770 million and counting for kids.
Over $90 million last year alone, and I know that Richard Goyder is pitching up to break that record again.
It’s an extraordinary achievement and a true testament to the vibrancy and the sense of community that you don’t have to be from the West to understand that that is the culture that you have built here over generations.
It’s often said that it takes a village to raise a child.
Well, today a whole state joins in to raise its children.
It is Team WA that’s most united.
And I want the whole country to join in.
Which is why I’m proud to announce that my Government is committing $6 million in funding to Telethon tonight on behalf of Australia.
Now, I can’t think of a worthier cause for the Australian Government, or indeed the Australian nation, to get behind.
And let’s face it, it is probably the only occasion in which I announce extra money to WA that the East Coast Premiers won’t object to.
I know government can’t do everything, but today is evidence that when government, business, community, and people work together, we can achieve so much.
So, I’ll end in the traditional way by saying – everyone, open your hearts and your wallets tonight.
Please give generously for what is a fantastic cause on what is an amazing occasion of celebration of our youngest Australians who need our support.
Have a great night.
