Milton Dick (Oxley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

After launching the Oxley Parliamentary School Program with a group of year 7 students at The Springfield Anglican College earlier this year, I was pleased to be at Kruger State School in my community last week for the second instalment of this very popular activity for students and teachers. The program is designed to give students who may not have an opportunity to travel to Canberra to see parliament in action a chance to participate in their own House of Representatives debate in the classroom. The students at The Springfield Anglican College earlier this year and at Kruger State School last week have made the program a huge success, and it was fantastic to see the students really embrace their roles in the parliament, and act out a debate on a bill to ban homework. Not only did the students do a tremendous job; they also showed respect towards one another as they debated the merits of the bill. After much debate between the parties, and the crossbench, the bill to ban homework was defeated. Complete with students acting out the roles of Speaker, Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and members of parliament, the program allows students to experience how legislation is debated and passed, and how the country is governed.

I want to specifically thank the teachers and other staff at Kruger State School. All the students and teachers are to be commended for their fantastic participation in the program. I look forward to taking the Oxley Parliamentary School Program to more schools in my electorate to provide students and teachers with an opportunity to participate in their own House of Representatives debate. Thank you to Kruger—and well done Kruger Crocs!

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