Youth Parliamentarians of today, leaders of tomorrow, take the oath
| Samoda Silva | 16 July 2024
In the official opening ceremony of the 28th sitting of the YMCA SA Youth Parliament, government and opposition leaders take their oath and swear to serve the State of South Australia as the changemakers of today and tomorrow.
Returning to the South Australian Parliament House for its 28th year, the Youth Parliament provides young people aged 15-25 with a unique opportunity to showcase their ideas and aspirations for the state, within a platform that is viewed and supported by current politicians and changemakers alike.
In an election held in April, Youth Parliamentarians voted amongst a diverse group of candidates to collectively decide who would best lead and serve them as leaders of their respective parties.
Youth Premier Joe Bloggs, in his debut address, reflected upon the “incredible potential of young people” and the “noteworthy contributions” they bring to their communities and the state at large. Bloggs encourages his parliamentary colleagues to use their voice to “champion change for the betterment of all”.
Youth Leader of the Opposition, Jane Doe echoed these sentiments, commenting on the Opposition’s commitment to work closely with the youth government to ensure that “what’s voiced in this place must not end up merely as words, but ideas actioned upon outside of this place as well”.
Youth Parliamentarians will take over Parliament House for the remainder of the week, and members of the public are invited to witness the discerning and passionate debates taking place in the House of Assembly and Legislative Council. You never know, these dynamic young leaders could very well be taking the oath to serve the State of South Australia as Members of Parliament in the near future, turning their visions into reality, and shaping the state for the better.
Samoda Silva
Member of the YMCA SA Youth Press Gallery
Published 16 July 2024.