Guy Barnett: Youth take their seats in Parliament

Young Tasmanians will get a taste for the rigours of parliamentary debate from today when the 27th annual Tasmanian Youth Parliament convenes at Parliament House.

The Liberal Government is proud to support the program with a $13,750 grant through one of the organising bodies, YMCA Hobart.

The week-long Youth Parliament gives students drawn from schools across the state a forum for raising and discussing issues that they see as important to our future, as well as the opportunity to learn more about our Westminster system of government.

This year, Bills to be debated include everything from education reform to mental health, and from raising the drinking age to lowering the voting age.

Bills that are passed will be presented to the Government at the end of the week, along with the policy documents resulting from an advocacy program relating to drugs and alcohol, political involvement, mental health, education and employment.

Throughout the week students stay in a residential camp and are able to participate in a range of workshops to further their education and improve their public speaking skills.

On behalf of the Premier, I was pleased to open Youth Parliament today, and look forward to hearing of the outcomes.
Guy Barnett, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier