FORTY of the state's brightest young minds have been engaging in political debate and discussing social issues.
The Tasmanian Youth Parliament began yesterday and runs until Friday, with Year 10-12 students from around the state debating Bills such as the decriminalisation of marijuana and gambling reform.
Convenor Tom Marshall said several Bills were being introduced, all of them ideas the students had put forward as their ways to create a better future for Tasmania.
"One that I think is quite interesting is introducing plain packaging for alcohol, to try to reduce alcohol sales and alcoholism," he said.
"There is also an interesting one from a team from Launceston that is helping families access elective surgery by providing grants to deal with the costs of travel and accommodation and rehabilitation surrounding surgery."
Mr Marshall said the Youth Parliament was run at Parliament House under strict House rules, with all students getting the chance to act in government and in opposition.
"Students are in teams of four and they work together with a mentor from the task force over a few months to write a Bill on a topic they care about.
"We take them right through from the beginning of the process -- from having an idea, to drafting it, putting it in the right format for Parliament, introducing the Bill, and taking it all the way through the different stages of passing a Bill through Parliament."
Mr Marshall said the Youth Parliament provided young people the chance to have a say about how the state was run.
"When you engage young people, you get some really innovative, out-of-the-box thinking," he said.
"I think it's encouraging that all of the Bills are presented to Parliament. The politicians I've spoken to genuinely do care about the outcomes of Youth Parliament and really consider it in their decision-making."
Yesterday students passed a Bill to make a second language compulsory in schools, as well as debating drivers' licence reform and elective surgery grants. Other Bills that will be debated during the week include healthier fat regulation, decriminalisation of abortion and religious education.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Cost of Living, Rebecca White, launched the 2013 Youth Parliament yesterday.
"It is fantastic to see young Tasmanians who are enthusiastic about politics, democracy and our parliamentary system," she said. "We need to engage youth who are interested in driving good public policy into the future."
For 26 years, the Youth Parliament has been running with the co-operation between the YMCA, the Tasmanian Youth Government Association and the State Government.
emma.hope@news.com.au
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