Three Glen Innes High School students spent the start of their school holidays debating the issues of the day in state parliament this week, as part of this year’s YMCA Junior Parliament program.

Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall was on hand to meet the Junior MPs Chelsea Jenkins and Georgina and Melinda Beattie, as well as their counterparts Adam and Bradley Lucas from Duval High School and Kate Biddle from PLC Armidale) – during the final day of the Junior Parliament yesterday.

Chelsea and Melinda debated for the Environment Committee and had their bill regarding factory farming successfully passed with a majority vote, while Georgina debated for the Police and Emergency Services Committee and also had her bill regarding compensated insurance for emergency service workers passed.

Chelsea’s mother Kassi reports that both debates were intensive and thorough with all speakers putting up great ideas and arguments.

“While there we were met by our local member Adam Marshall who positively encouraged the girls and further discussed with them how he started his political career in the same fashion by attending parliamentary camp when he was younger,” Mrs Jenkins said.

The Junior Parliament program is for students in Years 7-9 and complements the successful and long-standing Youth Parliament program for senior students.

The first Youth Parliament alumnus to be elected to the NSW Parliament, Mr Marshall chaired debate on a Health Bill in the Legislative Assembly and addressed members about the life of an MP and how to get involved in leadership roles in the local community.

“I was proud to meet the six students again and watch them make some very considered, passionate and mature contributions to the debates in the House. They were outstanding advocates for country NSW,” Mr Marshall said.

“It was a real pleasure to attend the last sitting day of the Junior Parliament and see our Northern Tablelands representatives and their peers debating important issues with great gusto in the ‘bear pit’ such as health screening of newborn babies, the school chaplaincy program and secularism in our public schools.  They certainly did us proud.”

All 98 participants in the Junior Parliament were selected from across the State and are in Years 7-9 at NSW schools.  The group is facilitated by a team of workers all aged under 25 and the Junior Parliament experience included workshops in the days leading up to the Parliamentary session.  

“This is a terrific initiative and I encourage any young people interested in youth leadership and governance to consider applying for the 2015 Junior and Youth Parliaments,” Mr Marshall said.  

“I commend the YMCA and all those involved in making the sessions so successful and an enjoyable learning experience, not only for the participants, but also for MPs who take part.  

“Young people are the future and witnessing the standard of debate this week in Parliament House, we are in good hands.”