Page 2067 - Week 07 - Thursday, 24 June 2021
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me. Students—young people—led the campaign to keep Canberra’s schools open in 2006. I was lucky enough to not only bear witness to this process but actively represent and advocate for students and their families during this campaign. The mobilisation of young people organised by young people during this time was pivotal to protecting public assets and ensuring that key school infrastructure has remained in some of our most heavily populated areas. It was the foresight shown by young people that first identified population trends that would necessitate the retention of these schools.
I have had the privilege in my time working and organising with the ACT Greens to have supported many young people to participate in our party and in the political system that will determine their future as we grapple with climate change and ever-growing wealth and economic inequality. I understand that we are not the only party who have seen membership growth from young people in recent years. Josh Manuatu, former Young Liberals president, who appeared before the inquiry into the 2020 ACT election and the Electoral Act, proudly claimed that the Young Liberals were the largest youth political movement in the country despite arguing we should not lower the voting age. This tells us that young people, regardless of their experiences, belief and philosophies, are active citizens, involved in political movements, and believe that their voices are necessary and valued in political and policy debates.
As the wording of my motion seeks to emphasise, students participating in protest is important not only to raise their voices in our democracy, but as a form of visual learning. I cite the experience and political engagement of the work experience student in my office this week, Juliet, who has participated in climate strikes since she was 13 years old. To quote Juliet:
I have been to the school strike for climate rallies three times and it is always a great experience. It is an opportunity where I can help protest on climate change and feel like I can be a part of getting the community’s collective voice heard on the issue. I often attend climate strike rallies, not only because I find it important to contribute to the cause, but also because … the environment at the rallies is super supportive. Anyone is welcome to show up. Everyone is there to have a good time but more importantly to speak up about climate change. There are always a bunch of people and friends from my school who I know go to the rallies regularly, which definitely gives me more motivation to go myself.
Juliet’s words show that young people are active participants in our community and that the movements they are building to solve the world’s most complex problems are inclusive, welcoming and effective. This motion ensures that students are supported to attend and encourages their teachers and educators to make valuable learning experiences of these opportunities.
Research in the space of young people and politics evidences a need for innovative and engaging civics and democracy education in Australia. My motion is designed to support teachers to provide facilitated learning opportunities to students here at the Assembly and to increase support for teacher training through the Education Office at the Assembly and through Elections ACT.
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