The third Pan-Commonwealth Youth Parliament took place in Brisbane, Queensland from 19-23 April 2005. Over 70 delegates nominated by Legislatures across the Commonwealth took part in the event. Sixty per cent of delegates were from developing countries. 51 per cent of participants were women reflecting the CPA’s constitutional commitment to gender equality. All participants were aged between 18-29.
This was the first time that the Commonwealth Youth Parliament was held outside the United Kingdom and the first time in a working Parliament. Acting Speaker of the Queensland Parliament, Hon. Jim Fouras MP, was the Speaker of the Youth Parliament. He stated the international importance of the Youth Parliament:
“The event will facilitate young people from all around the world being able to learn about and engage in the democratic process. I hope that it will also create an awareness of issues affecting youth around the world”.
The Acting Vice-Chairman of the CPA International Executive Committee acted as a Deputy Speaker at the Youth Parliament and spoke at the Opening Ceremony. He said “The Youth Parliament will provide a forum for young people to express their ideas, concerns and expectations with regard to the twin themes of democracy and development, with particular emphasis on poverty reduction strategies”.
The Premier of Queensland, Hon. Peter Beattie MP, formally opened the Youth Parliament in the Legislative Council (The Red Chamber). On subsequent days, the Youth Parliament met in the Legislative Assembly.
The overall goal of the project was to strengthen the democratic process in the Commonwealth by: deepening understanding of parliamentary democracy amongst young people and so upholding and advancing its practice in the Commonwealth; and providing the youth of the Commonwealth with a forum for expressing their ideas, concerns and expectations with regard to the twin themes of democracy and development, with particular emphasis on poverty reduction strategies.
The Youth Parliament was designed to provide an experience of the parliamentary process and to demonstrate how Parliaments are able to: make legislation; to debate matters of national and international concern; to discuss legislation in committee; to change government without recourse to civil disorder; and to make and enforce their own rules of conduct.
Other specific objectives of this activity were:
- Engage young people in a debate around the governance issues in their countries and train them to become agents of change in their community and partners in development,
- Provide young people with necessary tools and networks allowing them to get involved with development issues
- Assist young leaders to organize themselves, and create linkages with others in the Commonwealth
Participants were divided into three political parties and were asked to elect their own leaders and select party names and manifestos. The Siyafiki Party was the largest party and became the “Government”. Thomas Le Feuvre (Jersey) was elected as Prime Minister. The two Opposition Parties, the Commonwealth Progressive Alliance (CPA) and Dynamic Equality Empowerment Party (DEEP) were headed by Tom Callochar (New South Wales) and Lester Paul (Guyana) respectively.
The parliamentary arithmetic was as follows:
Siyafiki Party: 28 Members
Commonwealth Progressive Alliance (CPA): 23 Members
Dynamic Equality Empowerment Party (DEEP): 19 Members
The theme selected for the opening debate of the Youth Parliament was “Make Poverty History”. The debate provided an opportunity for delegates to share views, ideas and good practices in their countries and to make suggestions on the role of the Commonwealth and organisations such as the World Bank in alleviating poverty. Participants spoke as individual Members rather than as Party Representatives. Other sessions at the Youth Parliament included Question Time and Adjournment Debates. During Adjournment debates, participants were called without notice to speak for three minutes on an issue relating to their jurisdiction.
The Youth Parliament passed the following three Motions:
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“That the Youth Parliament recognise the need to reduce HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections through a coordinated approach combining free availability of condoms to all public institutions, including prisons and schools, and a comprehensive education and awareness programme.”
- “That the newly elected and democratic Government of Iraq be invited to join the Commonwealth once it has satisfied the existing criteria for Commonwealth membership.”
- The unprecedented level of financial aid raised for the Tsunami relief effort, in comparison to that devoted to more long-term crises in developing countries, such as the AIDS epidemic in Africa, was justifiable considering the sudden and devastating nature of the event.”
The Youth Parliament also passed an Act to amend the law relating to voting at public elections. The Electoral Reform Act provides for a voting age of 16 years. Persons below the age of majority will be able to apply on their own behalf to be registered as electors in accordance with rules to be made by the Electoral Commissioner.
Section 2 of the Act makes voting at public elections compulsory except for persons with a valid and sufficient reason (defined under sub-sections (2) (3) (4)).
Section 3 commits Commonwealth Governments to take all reasonable steps to ensure that all eligible electors can vote in secret, regardless of any disability.
Participants went through the Bill clause by clause in Committee and debated amendments submitted by each party. During the Committee stage, participants voted to remove a provision allowing electors to apply for a person to be appointed to vote as proxy on their behalf subject to certain restrictions and a further Clause to provide for the creation of up to 10 additional seats (“reserved seats”) in the Legislative Assembly to enhance the representation of minority groups.
Ten participants sought to introduce Ten Minute Rule Bills at the Youth Parliament. Four Bills were introduced:
Compulsory Primary Education Bill - Melissa Warrilow (Isle of Man)
Commonwealth Court of Human Rights Bill - Matt Leisle (Saskatchewan)
National Youth Parliament Bill - Kwame McCoy (Guyana)
Commonwealth Aids Fund Bill - Kalaycia Clarke (Jamaica)
The Youth Parliament did not give permission for the Bills introduced by: Aidan Morrison (Tasmania) on Nuclear Waste; Chikonde Nkandu (Zambia) on Youth Crime; Laine McDonald (West Australia) on Student Unionism; Tom Callachor (New South Wales) on Mental Health; Alan Wu (Queensland) on Corporate Social Responsibility and Environment Bill; and Farley Augustine (Trinidad and Tobago) on free tertiary education.
Speaking at the close of the Youth Parliament, the Secretary-General, Hon. Denis Marshall urged participants to become ambassadors for the Commonwealth by informing other young people about the outcomes of this Youth Parliament and by speaking about the importance of the Commonwealth and parliamentary democracy. He said “The Youth Parliament provided participants with an opportunity to make their own opinions felt while operating in a democratic framework. The CPA is committed under its strategic plan to sponsor outreach programmes to young people, to make them aware of the values of parliamentary democracy and to encourage them in its promotion”.
The Hansard of the Youth Parliament is available below:
Click on the links to view the Daily Programme for Wednesday, Friday or Saturday. The Rules Governing the Conduct of Business can also be accessed here.
Click here for an article on the Youth Parliament by Aidan Morrison (Tasmania).
The CPA Secretariat is grateful to the Parliament of Queensland for hosting this important outreach activity for young people. The Youth Parliament was co-sponsored by the World Bank Institute, the Commonwealth of Australia Parliament and the Department of Communities in Queensland. Nominating CPA Branches funded the air travel costs of their participants.
For further information, please contact Anthony Staddon at the CPA Secretariat on Anthony@cpahq.org or +44 (0) 20 7799 1460.