Mullumbimby High School year 12 students Henrietta Barry, Estar Constable, and vice-captain Rotem Hadad attended NSW Parliament and Government House this July to debate their bills created as part of the NSW Youth Parliament program.
Apolitical program
A Mullum High spokesperson said, ‘The Youth Parliament is an apolitical program by the Y NSW designed to allow young people the opportunity to be educated about, and to practise community leadership and advocacy skills in the parliamentary setting’.
‘Within their capacities as youth members, the students met with Her Excellency Margaret Beazley, governor for NSW, as well as several notable MPs.
‘In her community recognition statement, Henrietta Barry brought to attention protecting ecosystems from developmental clearing, while Estar Constable spoke up about homelessness in the Byron Shire, and Rotem Hadad urged the House to reconsider its management of emergency funds for climate disasters as a result of the Northern Rivers 2022 floods.
‘As claimed by the program, the students advocated strongly and proudly for their community, and served as a reminder of the power and importance held by youth voices’.
