Congratulations to the City of Greater Bendigo Youth Parliament Team 2023! The City of Greater Bendigo Youth Parliament team’s bill, Increasing Public Safety in Regional and Rural Areas Bill 2023 passed in the lower house, the Legislative Assembly, with a vote of 19-18.

From Sunday, the 25th to Friday, June 30th, members of the Greater Bendigo Youth Parliament team spent the week at YMCA’s Lake Dewar Lodge preparing for the debate on their bill.

The bill highlights the inequalities and struggles that regional and rural Victoria face compared to metropolitan Melbourne. This bill aims to support everyone, whether it be the people sleeping rough on the streets, those affected by family and domestic violence, or the young people in our regional and rural towns needing support to thrive.

The members of the Greater Bendigo Youth Parliament team were Youth Council’s very own Youth Mayor Ryan Peterson, Deputy Youth Mayor Lilly Correll and Youth Councillor Max McKellar, as well as a participant from YMCA, Yuwal Kannan.

It was a positive result for the team, with Youth Mayor Peterson being awarded best speaker of the Lower House, the Legislative Assembly, by the YMCA taskforce and Deputy Youth Mayor Lilly Correll being awarded the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for the week.

The Greater Bendigo team refuted Ivanhoe Girl’s Grammars’ bill, Textbook Reform in Secondary Education Bill 2023, and whilst the bill still passed, it was a superb effort from the team. Greater Bendigo highlighted the inequalities in Ivanhoe’s proposed legislation and managed to sway members from the Government’s house to vote against the bill. Their refuting bill passed 27-10, but the Greater Bendigo team is pleased with their outcome and efforts.

From the 20 bills that were submitted by various teams in the state, 18 bills were successfully debated in both the Legislative Assembly and Council and were passed by youth parliamentarians. This included Greater Bendigo’s bill, Increasing Public Safety in Regional and Rural Victoria Bill 2023.

From here, the successful bills were passed straight to the Minister for Youth, The Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP, where they will then be read and given to relevant ministers and policymakers to see how they can influence future policy and strategic direction.

Not only this, but the YMCA’s joint program alongside the Youth Parliament program, Youth Press Gallery reported on the Greater Bendigo team’s bill. The 4 team members participated in photos and a recorded interview and spoke confidently on their bill. The positive incorporation of the Youth Press Gallery into the program was of great value to the success of the bill.

The experience was overwhelmingly positive for the young people that attended and the rewarding experience of meeting with ministers and policymakers was invaluable. It provided not only insight but inspired all youth parliamentarians on the possible career paths not only as a politician but working in government and behind the scenes.

Through the funding and resources from not only the City but the support of the local Y Service clubs of Greater Bendigo, it enabled young people to attend and provide true diversity and recognition in the Greater Bendigo team.

Congratulations to the City of Greater Bendigo Youth Parliament Team 2023 not only for the success of their bill but their hard work and dedication to the program.