Delegation to NSW Parliament
On Thursday 26 September 2024, the Centre for Law and Social Justice led a delegation of Hunter high school students to NSW Parliament.
The delegation was invited to Parliament by Trisha Doyle MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Heritage, following the launch of the School Students’ Statement on the Right to a Healthy Environment. This Statement was produced by Hunter school students at the Centre for Law and Social Justice 2023 Youth Forum, which focused on the right to a healthy environment. The delegation included three students and one teacher from St Francis Xavier’s College (Hamilton) and one student from Merewether High School. The Centre was represented by Saskia Jones and Amy Maguire. In addition to attending Question Time in the Legislative Assembly, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with:
- Rose Jackson MP, Minister for Water, Homelessness, Mental Health, Youth and the North Coast
- Yasmin Catley MP, Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism
- Greg Piper MP, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
- Jason Yat-Sen Li MP, Assistant Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
- Liesl Tesch MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Communities, and for Disability Inclusion
- Tim Crakanthorp MP, Member for Newcastle
- Clayton Barr MP, Member for Cessnock
This parliamentary visit gave students the opportunity to participate in public and political life and advocate directly to decision-makers. The students shared the Statement on the Right to a Healthy Environment with the MPs they met during the visit. They also advocated for the protection of people’s right to protest in the context of Hunter-based climate activism.
Students also had an opportunity to advocate for an increased investment in mental health support in the school system. As a result of this direct advocacy, the delegation was invited by Minister Jackson to provide feedback on a report titled ‘Reducing the Stigma of Mental Health’. This report was drafted by the NSW Government in consultation with the NSW Youth Advisory Council (YAC). The invitation for student delegates to comment on the report reflected the quality of their advocacy.
The student delegates made a positive impression on members of parliament, with Trisha Doyle and Liesl Tesch MP encouraging them to consider intern opportunities with MPs in future. The Centre for Law and Social Justice is grateful to Trisha Doyle MP for generously hosting this parliamentary visit, ensuring that the student delegates gained knowledge about parliamentary processes, and for the many introductions to law-makers.
The School Students’ Statement on the Right to a Healthy Environment can be accessed here and more information on our previous Youth Forums can be found here. In November 2024, the Centre will be hosting a third annual Youth Forum with a focus on the right to participation in public and political life. All Centre for Law and Social Justice Youth Forums are generously sponsored by Australian Lawyers for Human Rights and the Human Rights for NSW Alliance.
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