Member for Fairfax, Clive Palmer MP, has despatched letters to Fairfax high schools inviting students to put their views to the House of Representatives as part of this year’s My First Speech competition.
Open to students from year 10 to 12, the My First Speech competition asks year 10 to 12 students to consider what they would say on an issue they are passionate about if they were elected to the House of Representatives. They then record themselves presenting their speech on video.
Three lucky students (first, second and third place) will be flown to Canberra with a parent or guardian to present their speeches live at Parliament House.
Cash prizes include $750 for the winner ($250 to the student, $500 to the school), $350 for the runner-up ($100 to the student, $250 to the school) and $175 for third place ($50 to the student, $125 to the school).
When the competition was first held in 2011 it attracted 176 entries from 68 schools across Australia, and the winners were applauded by MPs during Question Time in the House.
Entries close at 5.00pm (EST) on 12 September 2014. More details can be found at the My First Speech website www.aph.gov.au/myfirstspeech
Clive Palmer said the competition was a fantastic way for students to learn more about their nation’s political process, as well as connecting with issues that concern them.
“This competition is a wonderful way for our next generation of community leaders to identify issues that mean a lot to them and present that in our national parliament,” Mr Palmer said.
“We need more young people taking a deeper interest in our political system and I look forward to schools in my electorate promoting this competition to their students.”
House of Representatives Education Committee Chair Ewen Jones and Deputy Chair Alannah MacTiernan will be judging the entries along with Seven News political editor Mark Riley.