Parliament engages youth

An interest in debating and a desire to develop public speaking skills is what motivated 17-year-old Bunbury Cathedral Grammar student Eliza Lyon to join the Western Australian YMCA Youth Parliament.

Eliza represented Bunbury and attended a week long-intensive program at Parliament House earlier this month.

She debated bills relating to youth employment and regional development alongside 51 participants between 15 and 25 years of age.

Eliza was introduced to the program at school and saw the parliament as a good opportunity to build her confidence and a platform to discuss ideas in the South West.

“It was good to know there were people who are like-minded around my age and be able to debate and talk about issues in Australia,” she said.

“There was a debate about the detention centre in Nauru, the dairy industry and GM foods.

“I don’t think I want to get into politics, I would rather criticise the politicians, maybe become a journalist, but it was great for developing my public speaking skills and I made new friends.”

WA’s youngest councillor Sebastian Schiano resigned after four years with youth parliament earlier this month.

In 2013 and 2014 Mr Schiano was the Member for Collie-Preston and the two following years was a task force volunteer member running the program.

He said when he joined he was the only person in the program representing regional areas and this year there were five people from the South West and nine people from other regions.

“Getting into youth parliament changed a lot about me – before I joined I was very reserved and now I have come so far. I encourage anyone to try it if they have a passion for leadership, because they will gain public and persuasive speaking skills,” he said.

“I now want to focus on my role in the South West community and be a leader at home.”