Alison Byrnes (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Like my friends the member for Nicholls and the member for Hunter, I am also participating in the Youth Voice in Parliament campaign, championed by Ash and the team at Raise Our Voice. My submission today is from Ella Rose Webber, an 18-year-old constituent from Wollongong, and a good friend of mine. These are Ella's words:

I don't think it'd be a stretch to say that we all know a young person who can give this passionate appeal on climate change or queer rights, but who will then struggle to say which level of government is best suited for such an important task.

This isn't their fault, because there is no mandatory civics unit in Australian schools.

Young people are simply thrust into a voting booth at 18 with some general platitudes they've seen in ads and headlines. They don't know how to cast a valid vote, or even that they need to vote to avoid a fine.

Unfamiliarity breeds apathy, so it really is no wonder that young people are turning off from politics: because they see all of these problems, but don't see how things change in Australia.

In the development of a federal syllabus in a democratic country, a mandatory civics unit within HSIE is surely a common-sense addition. Teaching the structure of government, the civil rights that Australians are entitled to, and the relevance of government to everyday lives is a highly effective way to reignite youth interest in Australian democracy.

Thank you so much, Ella, for your contribution, and to Ash and the team for their work to ensure young people have a voice here in our parliament.