But Australia faces additional regional and global challenges also crucial to our nation's future - climate change, questions of energy and food security, the rise of China and the rise of India. And we need a strong system of global and regional relationships and institutions to underpin stability.

People are happiest when they are giving, they are saddest when they are just taking. And that is the core message of community.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.

Australians are a passionate lot. We are also a very practical lot.

Building a new Health and Hospitals Network is fundamental to building a stronger and fairer Australia.

Having a go at kids with a terminal illness is really beyond the pale, absolutely beyond the pale.

As nations we should also commit afresh to righting past wrongs. In Australia we began this recently with the first Australians - the oldest continuing culture in human history. On behalf of the Australian Parliament, this year I offered an apology to indigenous Australians for the wrongs they had suffered in the past.