YMCA NSW Youth Parliament

The YMCA NSW Youth Parliament is a YMCA sponsored youth model parliament programme.[2][3][4] The program was first launched in 2002, attracting 32 participants representing regional teams from across New South Wales. The program has continued since and is in its 19th year. There is a YMCA youth parliament in every Australian State and Territory.[5]

Youths aged 15–18 may apply for the program or seek selection from their local MP or MLC.[2][6] Successful applicants are then sorted into committees according to their preferences and begin to create a bill or a report to amend an issue in NSW.[2]

Participants generally represent their local Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislative Council and meet during a weekend long training camp where they learn the workings of the bearpit and how to create a bill or report.[2] Youth MP's then spend time in the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council debating, amending and voting on bills and general motions, including Question Time.[7] In some cases, Bills that have been created have gone into real policy adopted by the state.

During the Training Camp, Youth MP's may nominate themselves for Premier. The top two participants are shortlisted from the preliminary vote. A final vote decides the Premier and Opposition Leader. From this vote, the Government and Opposition are generally decided and participants may nominate themselves for party leadership positions such as Deputy Premier, Leader of the House/Manager of Opposition Business and Treasurer.[8] Since the addition of the bicameral parliament, further leadership positions have been made available to serve the Legislative Council, such as Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.[8]

Prior to this, Ministers and Shadow Ministers are elected by their committees to take on the role of lead sponsor or refuter of the portfolio. This is replicated in the Legislative Council with Chairpersons of committees and Ministers representing Legislative Assembly portfolios. There are additional leadership roles, such as Government Whip, Opposition Whip (in both houses) and Regional Ministers (in the Legislative Assembly)

Participants also have the chance to attend the Governors Reception at Government House.[3]

Former Youth Premiers

• Hamani Tanginoa - Tanginoa served in the YMCA NSW Youth Parliament as the Member for Campbelltown and was sworn in as NSW's 18th Youth Premier in April 2019. He is the first Indigenous person to be elected to the role and currently serves as Youth Premier for 2019.[9]
• Benjamin Capovilla - Capovilla served in the YMCA NSW Youth Parliament as the Member for Holsworthy and was sworn in as NSW's 17th Youth Premier in April 2018. In the 2019 parliament, Capovilla vacated the leadership and was appointed the Leader of the House[10]

2019 NSW Youth Premier Hamani Tanginoa

The position of Youth Governor, voted in and selected by the volunteer taskforce and participants, is charged with overseeing and representing the program as well as signing off on bills that are passed. The current Youth Governor is Brydan Toner.[11] Toner had previously served in the YMCA NSW Youth Parliament as the Youth Member for South Coast in 2011 and 2012.[12] He served as Attorney General in 2012 and prior to being elected as the Youth Governor of NSW in 2013, was a Youth Member of the Legislative Council and Deputy Leader of the Government.

Former Youth Governors

• Blake Osmond - Osmond served in the YMCA NSW Youth Parliament as the Member for Wollongong. He was sworn in as NSW's 9th Youth Governor in July 2011.
• Geeth Geegenage - Geegenage served in the YMCA NSW Youth Parliament as the Member for Blacktown. He was sworn in as NSW's 10th Youth Governor in July 2012.
• Brydan Toner - Toner served in the YMCA NSW Youth Parliament as the Member for South Coast. He was sworn in as NSW's 11th Youth Governor in July 2013.

Hon. Emily Osborne MP, 2019 Member for Balmain being announced as NSW's 17th Youth Governor.

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• Sam Harris - Harris served in the YMCA NSW Youth Parliament as the Member for Newcastle. He was sworn in as NSW's 15th Youth Governor in July 2017.
• Sophie Macdonald - Macdonald served in the YMCA NSW Youth Parliament and was sworn in as NSW's 16th Youth Governor in July 2018.
• Emily Osborne - Osborne served in the YMCA NSW Youth Parliament as the Member for Balmain. She was sworn in as NSW's 17th Youth Governor in July 2019, Osborne is currently in this role.

The program is facilitated by a volunteer task force of past participants.[2][13][14] The YMCA NSW Youth Parliament is the only Youth Parliament across Australia that does not receive funding from the State Government. YMCA funding and a dedicated volunteer taskforce continue to run Youth Parliament. The YMCA NSW Youth Parliament also offers the Press Gallery program. This is an internship program for eligible students facilitating experience in journalism, advocacy, public relations and political reporting as part of the Youth & Government suite of programs.[15]

Hon. Ben Woodland MP, 2019 Member for Maitland and Minister for Employment & Business speaks during open-floor debate as others watch on

The Youth Parliament has held conferences since 2002, creating and debating bills on a wide range of topics. The YMCA NSW Youth Parliament was held at Sydney Olympic Park Lodge (SOPL) at the Newington Armory in Sydney.

The Youth Parliament passed the Same-Sex Marriage Matter of Public Importance (MPI) in 2012 with 70 ayes to 11 noes, with the largest majority of all Youth Parliaments in Australia debating this issue. The young parliamentary members represented the spectrum of opinions. One member stated his belief in the importance of the MPI as a member of the gay community, while another voted against the MPI due to religious beliefs.[16]

In 2013, the Parliamentary and Legal Reform Committee Debated the Marriage Equality Bill 2013.[17][18][19] This passed unanimously with 72 ayes to 0 noes.[20][21] Following the passing of the Bill, the chamber began to sing 'Advance Australia Fair'. This is a first for the YMCA NSW Youth Parliament. The Bill also passed in the Legislative Council with 40 ayes to 4 noes.[21]

In 2019, the Aboriginal Affairs Committee debated a bill to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee within all NSW schools. This is to help improve the cultural standpoints and enable self-determination of Aboriginal people and their communities. This passed unanimously with 67 ayes to 0 noes. The bill was even more significant with the programs first ever Aboriginal premier ushering it through the chamber.[22]

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