"We are living in a country where universities are shutting down debate," Senator Chandler said.

Senator Chandler recalled having her perspective rejected by lecturers and other students when she was studying law and political science at the University of Tasmania on the basis she was "just a Young Liberal".

"Surely universities should encourage the consideration and debate of a range of views - not dismiss certain perspectives out of hand while endorsing other views without scrutiny?" she said.

"While I was involved in campus politics while at university I was acutely aware of the contrast my views presents to the majority of students, and indeed lecturers, around me.

"I consider my experience as a conservative on campus an intellectual challenge that only strengthened my beliefs in the Liberal cause.

"Since my time at university, however, it appears that left-wing activism and group-think has only increased, at the expense of genuine and free academic inquiry."

Senator Chandler said she believed Australia has shied away from educating young people about democracy.

"We're afraid we won't be able to teach them without being inherently political," Senator Chandler said.

"It is absolutely possible to provide the next generation with a comprehensive civics education that maintains an appropriate level of impartiality.

"As a person who was inspired through my own education to learn more about our Parliament and our democracy, and who has eventually ended up elected to serve my state, I think we owe it to the future success of our democracy to ensure children understand and value our political institutions."

Senator Chandler said her overwhelming motivation in running for the Senate was to fight for the best opportunities for future generations, particularly for young Tasmanians.

"The unfortunate reality is each year we see too many young Tasmanians leaving our state to study or in the early stages of their career," she said.

"Sometimes, they do so in order to broaden their horizons, and that's certainly not something that should be discouraged, but more often than not they leave to pursue opportunities interstate which they can't enjoy at home.

"Many, who would have had so much to offer Tasmania, do not return."

Senator Chandler said improving Tasmania's educational outcomes, which have historically been the lowest of the Australian states, was a policy area particularly close to her heart.

"The next challenge for our education system in Australia, and particularly in Tasmania, is ensuring that our education and training providers teach our young people the right skills to support them in gaining long-term employment," she said.

"I worry the next generation of educated job-seekers will be capable of writing perfectly eloquent and rigorously researched essays, but might struggle to solve the complex problems our society faces with a practical, human, common sense approach."

Senator Chandler said she would not be in the Senate today if she wasn't passionate about Tasmania.

"Tasmania may only be a small island, but it is certainly a diverse one, with more than 60 per cent of our population living outside our capital city of Hobart," she said.

"To put this in perspective, Queensland is the only other state where more people live outside the capital city than in it.

"Representing both of these regions, the city and the country, and in doing so ensuring that Tasmania as a whole becomes stronger, is the challenge that a Tasmanian senator must undertake with enthusiasm."

Senator Chandler expressed her concerns that progress and investment were being driven out of Tasmania.

"It seems that wherever there is opportunity and success in Tasmania, the anti-everything brigade are quickly on the scene, determined to stop progress at all costs," Senator Chandler said.

"Ironically, it's those that like to call themselves 'progressive' who are always at the forefront of these efforts to prevent progress.

"Growing up in the beautiful Huon Valley, nobody appreciates more than I do what makes Tasmania special and unique, and a great place to live. But it's a completely false dichotomy to pretend that the only way to protect our lifestyle and our environment is to oppose all forms of development and progress."

Senator Chandler concluded her speech by thanking her colleagues, mentors, friends and family for their encouragement of her political endeavours.

"To my husband Chris Edwards, there aren't many couples who spend their first six months of marriage on the campaign trail, and I am so appreciative of your love and support," she said.

"And to the people of Tasmania ... you have bestowed upon me an immense honour, one that I promise today I will never take for granted."