Tuesday 3rd July 2018
A Liberal Nationals Government will ensure more young Victorians from the Murray Plains electorate have the chance to participate in Youth Parliament to influence and develop legislation that matters to them.
Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh and Shadow Minister for Young Victorians Steph Ryan have announced a Liberal Nationals Government will provide $120 000 a year for four years to the YMCA to run the Youth Parliament program ‘“ an increase of $20 000 a year compared to current arrangements.
Mr Walsh said the funding boost will ensure more young Victorians with special needs and from disadvantaged backgrounds can participate.
In particular it will help the YMCA support participants who are deaf or hard of hearing and help young people travelling from rural and regional areas.
Youth Parliament was established in 1987 and is run by the YMCA in conjunction with the Victorian Government.
Each year it enables 120 students aged 16 to 25 to undertake leadership training team building and other activities. Teams of six raise $4000 to attend.
In 2014 the Liberal Nationals established the YMCA Press Gallery to run alongside Youth Parliament providing a newsroom environment to cover the activities of Youth Parliament.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Young Victorians Steph Ryan
Young people in Victoria have good ideas about how to improve our state and we want to hear them.
Twenty-five bills developed and debated by Youth Parliament have gone on to become legislation.
Empowering young people and taking their concerns seriously strengthens our democracy and makes today’s decision-makers accountable to the future leaders of our State.
Comments attributable to Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh
Since its establishment Youth Parliament has provided the opportunity for 3000 young Victorians to speak out on issues important to them.
This funding boost ensures that even more young people can add their voice and be part of this strong tradition.
I hope the focus on diversity and supporting young Victorians from all walks of life will encourage more young people from across the Murray Plains electorate whatever their backgrounds to put their hands up and get involved.