STUDENTS PARLIAMENT 6 SEPTEMBER 2001 AFTERNOON SESSION — LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. A. P. Olexander) took the chair at 12.50 p.m. The ACTING PRESIDENT — Good afternoon. I am Andrew Olexander, a member for Silvan Province, and a member of this chamber. I welcome you all here to the resumption of the Students Parliament and to the Legislative Council. You may have heard earlier in the day that the Legislative Assembly, which is across the corridor and is decorated in green, is the people’s house. While the Legislative Council is elected on a very similar basis to the Legislative Assembly, its role in our democratic process is as a house of review. To achieve that, its members take great care with every piece of legislation that comes to us from the lower house. We analyse it in detail and bring further information and analysis to bear on it. You may have heard quoted what Lord Acton said last century. He said, ‘Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’. That is a very true sentiment, and the whole idea of having a Legislative Council to review the activities of the house of government is so that no chamber has absolute power. The role and traditions of the Legislative Council are very important in our democratic system. Each student here today is represented by three members of Parliament: one is a person from the lower house, and two members represent each and every one of you in this, the upper house. If you do the maths you will see that every upper house electorate has two members and encompasses four lower house seats, so each province is a large electorate. I am very pleased to say that there are a number of schools here today from Silvan Province, which I represent — Ringwood Secondary College, Southwood Boys’ Grammar, Monbulk College, Billanook College, Parkwood Secondary College and Yarra Valley Grammar School. I extend a welcome to them and to all schools. I guarantee, however, that I will not be showing any favouritism to my local schools. The position of Acting President of the Legislative Council means I have to be completely fair and impartial. This is your house; this is the house of review of the Victorian Parliament. You should all feel very proud of yourselves for your contributions thus far. 25 6 September 2001 Students Parliament Council TOPIC 9 — Young people have the right to be involved in demonstrations if they choose to do so. Democratic rights do not just begin at age 18. Presenting school — Ringwood Secondary College Challenging school — Swan Hill College Miss J. CLEARY — In today’s growing and changing society it is easy to see that young people play a pivotal role in the development of ideas and outlooks that shape our nation. Young people are affected by developments and changes, and everyone who is affected has the right to voice their opinion. Demonstrations are a way we can be heard and become involved. Involvement is encouraged throughout our lives: we are told to lead, to challenge our minds, to express ourselves and to make ourselves count. If youth is mature enough to care passionately about a topic of dispute, then there is no reason why, as future adults, they cannot be involved in demonstrations. We see bad things being publicised and making the front page, but generally the good non-violent demonstrations are not heard about. In fact, youths go to demonstrations all the time — it could be a local neighbourhood demonstration or a larger inner-city one. Most demonstrations are safe, and are ways of being involved and voicing our opinions. If a 17-year-old feels so strongly about a topic of debate, then at that age they are mature enough to independently attend and include themselves in a demonstration. Youths attend demonstrations on topics like globalisation and the environment all the time, with the knowledge of their intensity and risks. But going to such a demonstration shows they are willing to take a risk to make themselves count — they are willing to take the consequences. If a child aged 13 goes to a local demonstration because he or she cares enough to do so, why object? Most are safe and valuable experiences that can make people think about what they can do for our country. Young people bring fresh new ideas and a new perspective that is more suited to a new generation of people. Older Australians are experienced and may be wise, but they are also more conservative. A mix of young and older people can prove a powerful and decisive combination. Elderly people are eligible to attend demonstrations but they are at more risk of getting injured than a youth. As the elderly generally have more wisdom and knowledge, it is good for the young Australians who want to be involved in the country’s democracy to listen to and learn from this wisdom. Although we cannot vote until we are 18 many have developed ideas way beyond their years. We live in a democratic society and as a democracy we should listen to everyone. Everyone — including those aged less than 18 — is affected; everyone has rights; and everyone should count if they choose so. Those who choose not to participate do not have to, but why should those who want to lead, be involved and demonstrate be held back? How can 18-year-olds make informed and wise decisions about who they want to lead the country if they do not know anything about the democracy? We should encourage youth to be involved and to make the right decisions. Some would say that demonstrations are violent and no place for youth, but most are the exact opposite. Small local ones provide no such danger and larger demonstrations are police-controlled. Legally, demonstrations have to be peaceful so there should be no such threat anyway. However, if we are mature enough to want to go, we are mature enough to handle the consequences and to know what is enough. The leaders of this country did not become leaders by holding back; they stood up, voiced their opinions and were heard. That is what we need in our country: that is what we need in our youth. The ACTING PRESIDENT — I thank the honourable member for her contribution. Unlike this morning in this chamber, we are fortunate enough to have with us a very dedicated and professional team of Hansard reporters who will take down what you say this afternoon. It is important that when speakers rise they approach the microphone, which will have the little red band lit. I remind all honourable members to do that so that our Hansard reporters can clearly hear your contributions. I thank the honourable member for her contribution and invite an honourable member from Swan Hill Secondary College to respond. Mr WARD — In what way other than demonstrations can people influence decisions? Miss SANDERSON — There are many ways you can voice your opinion, but demonstrations are a good way because they show that you are mature enough to have your say. Miss DODDS — Have any of the honourable members from Ringwood Secondary College been to a demonstration? If so, what was it for, what went on and do you feel you made an impact in some way? 26 6 September 2001 Students Parliament Council Miss SANDERSON — I have actually been to a demonstration. It was a local one in my street because we did not want a building thing to happen. It was just peaceful and it was really good because I was able to have my say about what I thought was going on. Miss ANGUS — Can you recall a situation when a demonstration has made a difference? Mr BROWN — Have you heard of Craig Kielburger from the USA? At the age of 12 he started an organisation called Free the Children. He visited about 13 countries — some of them in the Third World. Many children have been freed from child labour because of a 12-year-old boy and his friends who started demonstrating. Miss NINNIS — You stated in your speech that elderly people are able to attend these demonstrations but are at more risk of being injured. But then, further on, you said that the demonstrations are not dangerous. Are you contradicting yourself? Isn’t the risk for an elderly person the same as for a young person? Miss J. CLEARY — We say that elderly people are eligible to attend demonstrations that legally have to be peaceful. We think youth has more chance or opportunity to escape danger than elderly people, who are more likely to be fragile and frail. You are saying they are in the same danger. We are saying that youth has less chance to be injured and is not as eligible to attend demonstrations. The ACTING PRESIDENT — Time has elapsed for Swan Hill Secondary College, so the floor is now open for questions of Ringwood Secondary College. Miss WALLIKER — With any protests that are violent — like the S11 protests — do you think that this is a good influence on young people who could follow this lead? Miss SANDERSON — If youths are mature enough to want to go to a demonstration then they are obviously mature enough to know the risks of going there. By going they are showing that they want to go and that they want to voice their opinions, so they also know the risks. Mr YOUNG — I have seen one on the waterfront and one man was trying to stop a car. He was holding his daughter in front of him and she was distressed and crying.