YMCA Youth Parliament

Hon. Dempsey Bloom MP, 2012 Member for Wollondilly and Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs debates the Aboriginal Funding Control Bill 2012. New South Wales.
Youth Parliament 2013 Recruitment Logo.

The YMCA Youth Parliament is a YMCA sponsored youth model parliament programme.[1][2] There is a YMCA youth parliament in every Australian State and Territory.[3]

Participants spend time in committees developing bills, and then attend a week-long camp during which the legislation and other motions are debated in the state parliament. Successfully passed bills are handed to the state government and opposition for consideration.[4][5]

History

It is a YMCA sponsored youth model parliament programme. There is a YMCA youth parliament in every Australian state and territory.[6] The first Australian Youth Parliament was held in Brisbane in 1963, based on the American "YMCA Youth and Government" concept.

Overview

The age ranges vary by state. Within New South Wales, it acts as a platform for youth advocacy for 15- to 18-year-olds.[4] In South Australia, the ages range from 16-25.[7] Participants generally represent their local member of Parliament or Member of the Legislative Council and meet during a weekend long training camp where they learn the workings of the bearpit, how to create a bill, conduct debates in Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council, and amend and vote on bills and general motions.[1][6][8][9] Students visit the Legislative Assembly and the Government House.[1]

State programs

New South Wales

The YMCA NSW Youth Parliament is open to young people aged 15 to 18 who represent their local electorate in the Legislative Assembly or NSW in the Legislative Council.

The YMCA NSW Youth Parliament program was launched in 2002, attracting 32 participants representing regional teams. As the program progressed, parliamentary committees were established. Among bills, the Youth Parliament also advocates for change with motions. The YMCA NSW Youth Parliament passed the Same-Sex Marriage Matter of Public Importance (MPI) in 2012 with 70 ayes to 11 noes, which made them "among the largest groups in favour of legalising for marriage equality."[10]

A Bill for Marriage Equality was passed in the Legislative Assembly the following year 72 ayes to 0 noes,[11] making this the first unanimous vote for marriage equality. The bill further passed the Legislative Council 40 ayes to 4 noes.[12]

2013 saw the introduction of the Legislative Council and the creation of the YMCA Youth & Government suite of programs, making it the only YMCA Youth Parliament in Australia to run a bicameral Parliament and programs other than that of the initial Youth Parliament.[13]

The incumbent Youth Governor of New South Wales is Jacqueline Willing.

Queensland

The statewide program in Queensland selects one individual, aged 15 to 25 years old, to represent each electorate in the state.[14][15][16] More than 1500 youth from 89 state and 4 indigenous electorates have participated since 1992. Some of these people have become lawyers, members of parliament, doctors, army staff and miners.[17] The Youth Governor of Queensland is Isabella Vecchio.

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory selects applicants aged 13 to 25 to participate in the Youth Parliament program. Their participation in making, debating and passing bills with the Youth Parliament result in the bills being passed to Parliament for review. These bills may be enacted into law.[18]

South Australia

The South Australia Youth Parliament annually conducts a week long parliamentary session at the state's Parliament House. Participants aged 15-24 debate mock bills and motions as part of the program. The program is intended to be "rewarding and educational". Cassandra Attwood, a past participant, commented, "I want to be a lawyer, so I think it gives me a lot of good experience in public speaking and being able to think on your feet," she said.[19][20] The 2016 Youth Governor of South Australia is Her Excellency Elysse Dimitriadis. [21]

Playford mayor Glen Docherty, Australia's Labor minister Kate Ellis, and policy adviser, Mia Handshin are alumni of the program.[20][22]

In South Australia, the ages range from 16-25. The 21-year program has seen more than 1,000 youth participate in the program that is supported by the Government of South Australia's Office for Youth.[7]

Tasmania

The Tasmania Youth Parliament conducts an annual event at state capital's Parliament House in Hobart. There they follow "real government" procedures for drafting and debating bills. Government Whip Felicity Grey stated, "It’s a good way to get into public speaking and to meet not only like minded people but to have your own opinions challenged."[9][23]

Victoria

The first YMCA Victoria Youth Parliament[24] was held in the Legislative Council of Parliament House in September 1987 and has been held yearly since then. The program is offered to individuals between 16 and 25 years of age; participants engage in a 9-day residential program, part of which is conducted at Parliament House.[6]

The Youth Parliament, supported by the Victoria government, have seen more than 20 of their bills passed into law, including alcohol, bike and nightclub safety measures.[6]

At the 2012 session, six Hazara young men were part of the Victoria Youth Parliament and asked the Prime Minister to put pressure on the Pakistani government to stop genocide of Hazra people and brought awareness of the plight of fleeing people, such as those who come to Australia by boat. Wahid Omid Talked said: "all Hazara asylum seekers who comes to Australia and seek protection here are prosecuted by Taliban and other terrorist and extremist groups." Regarding why they don't remain in queues in Indonesia's refugee camps: "the queue is imaginary and does not exist, people have been waiting for up to 10 years in Indonesia to be settled in 3th [sic] country and the applications in UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) office is processed randomly not by turn." The group of youth parliamentary participants debated the following day about how to welcome people seeking asylum in Australia.[25]

Western Australia

The Western Australian Youth Parliament is a program coordinated by the YMCA of Perth, and acts as the most senior youth advisory body to the Western Australian government. Participants spend time in committees developing bills, and then attend a week-long camp during which the legislation and other motions are debated in the Western Australian Parliament. Successfully passed bills are handed to the state government for consideration. In 2004 the first regional Youth Parliament sitting occurred in Albany, Western Australia.[26] Young people from 15 to 25 years of age may participate in the program.[3][27]

National Indigenous Youth Parliament

To mark the 50th anniversary of Indigenous Australians obtaining the right to vote, the Museum of Australian Democracy, YMCA, and Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) collaborated on a week long event in May 2012 for the first "National Indigenous Youth Parliament" (NIYP).[28][29]

Participants were up to 25 years old and were selected from a group of more than 180 people for their leadership skills and interest in the parliamentary process. Each state and territory had six representatives; Torres Strait Islands had two representatives at the parliamentary event. They spent one week in Canberra and learned about the process of making laws, public speaking and fielding inquiries from the media.[29] The State News Service reported that "The Bills passed by the Youth Parliament will then be presented to Government representatives for consideration in developing policies."[30]

A video commemorating the event followed the experiences of participants of the event, including a 2-day parliamentary session at the Old Parliamentary House in Canberra. Of the event that taught participants about workings of the parliamentary process, one of the participants, Jaleesa Donovan, stated that she felt that she gained leadership skills and motivation to help her in her relationships and future as a community member and worker.[28]

The youth met the prime minister, Parliament members, indigenous community members and the media. Tom Rogers, Acting Electoral Commissioner, said: "The young participants have returned to their communities to share their NIYP experiences and skills, and we look forward to seeing them again, who knows, perhaps as elected Members of Parliament."[28][29]

See also

Alumni

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kate Matthews. "Teens get taste of political life ; Students get an inside view of Parliament." Daily Examiner Grafton, N.S.W.. 2010. HighBeam Research. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  2. ↑ Evelyn Douglas, Jessica Harris (2008). Why Not the Best Schools?: The Australia Report. Australian Council for Education Research. p. 19. ISBN 0864319797.
  3. 1 2 "Youth Parliament". YMCA Headquarters. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  4. 1 2 "YMCA NSW Youth Parliament | Get Active | YMCA NSW - Servicing the Community for over 150 years!". Ymcasydney.org. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
  5. ↑ Emma Pritchard. "New voice joins the parliament ; Talia inspired by her schoolmate's success." Daily Examiner Grafton, N.S.W.. 2011. HighBeam Research. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Youth Parliament". Department of Human Services, Victoria. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Youth Parliament 2013". Government of South Australia. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  8. ↑ "Youth Parliament | YMCA NSW Youth Parliament". Ymca Nsw. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
  9. 1 2 Raabus, Carol (17 September 2007). "Youth Parliament debates the future". Australian Broadcasting Company.
  10. ↑ "Youth Parliament: Overwhelming support for marriage equality on". Samesame.com.au. 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
  11. ↑ http://www.australianmarriageequality.org/2013/07/05/media-release-youth-parliament-support-for-nsw-marriage-equality-act-shows-strong-support-for-reform-among-young-voters/
  12. ↑ http://gaynewsnetwork.com.au/news/youth-parliament-votes-for-marriage-equality-11398.html
  13. ↑ New South Wales Youth Parliament.
  14. ↑ "BRIEFS." Morning Bulletin, The Rochkhampton, Qld.. APN Newspapers Pty Ltd. 2012. HighBeam Research. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  15. ↑ YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament. YMCA. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  16. ↑ "Search is on for young pollies." Morning Bulletin, The Rochkhampton, Qld.. APN Newspapers Pty Ltd. 2012. HighBeam Research. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  17. ↑ "BRIEFS." Morning Bulletin, The Rochkhampton, Qld. APN Newspapers Pty Ltd. 2013. HighBeam Research. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  18. ↑ Northern Territory: About Youth Parliament. YMCA. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  19. ↑ South Australian Youth Parliament. YMCA. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  20. 1 2 Stokes, Katrina. "Youth ready to have their say". Adelaide Now.
  21. ↑ https://twitter.com/YMCAYPSA
  22. ↑ Joy Noble, Roger Dick, ed. (2000). Australian Volunteers at Work: One Hundred and One Stories. Wakefield Press. p. 47. ISBN 1862545340.
  23. ↑ Tasmanian YMCA Youth Parliament. YMCA. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  24. ↑ YMCA Victoria Youth Parliament. YMCA. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  25. ↑ "Hazara Youths Take Active Rule in Australian Society." Kabul Press (Kabul, Afghanistan). Kabul Press. 2012. HighBeam Research. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  26. ↑ Albany gears up for regional Parliament ABC news
  27. ↑ Western Australian YMCA Youth Parliament Program. YMCA. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  28. 1 2 3 "Launch of the National Indigenous Youth Parliament Video" States News Service. States News Service. 2012. HighBeam Research. 15 Apr. 2013.
  29. 1 2 3 "National Indigenous Youth Parliament Members to Represent States and Territories in Canberra 23–29 May." States News Service. States News Service. 2012.
  30. ↑ "Future Indigenous Leaders in First Ever National Indigenous Youth Parliament." States News Service. States News Service. 2012. HighBeam Research. 15 Apr. 2013 .

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