Teen Parliament

The Hon. T.T. NGO (14:55): My question is to the Attorney-General. Will the minister tell the council about the recent Teen Parliament program facilitated by The Advertiser?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:55): I am very happy to answer that question and talk about the recent Teen Parliament, and particularly the Tjindu Foundation Aboriginal students who participated in that area and the remarkable work that the Tjindu Foundation does in the lives of Aboriginal children in particular.

Honourable members may have seen recent coverage in The Advertiser about a group of young South Australians sharing their ideas for the future of our state. Across education, health, the economy and many other areas, these young people have some innovative and creative ideas to build a better future for South Australians. This was part of The Advertiser's Teen Parliament program, held last week in this very building. The program brought together 25 high school students from across the state to put forward and debate topics they believe will help drive our state forward.

I had the opportunity to attend part of the program and watch some of the debates held in the other place. Like everyone in attendance, I was significantly impressed with the thoughtful and well-researched contributions made by many young people on a diverse range of topics from many different viewpoints.

One of the students, Tayah Coulthard-Todd from Sacred Heart College, spoke passionately about the importance of Indigenous education in schools, calling for the introduction of Indigenous education across the state. Tayah was one of a number of students sponsored to attend by the Tjindu Foundation, and it was great to see those students again after they visited parliament in the last sitting week to watch the introduction of the First Nations Voice Bill in this chamber. It was just one of the many topics brought to the debate. Many students shared their views on the education system and many other issues of importance to young people.

I know the member for Kavel, the Hon. Dan Cregan in the other place, who was presiding over the Teen Parliament debate as Speaker, was particularly pleased to hear passionate debate about things that affect his electorate as well as South Australia in general. There was a diverse range of ideas, and students came from right across the state. For example, Ashley Hunt joined the Teen Parliament all the way from Western Eyre Peninsula, where she attends Streaky Bay Area School, speaking on the floor on the day of her 17^th birthday last week.

I would like to congratulate The Advertiser and others who have helped in the organisation of this event for putting together an excellent day, with students, a range of journalists and members of parliament in attendance and the debates livestreamed through The Advertiser's website. In closing, I would like to congratulate all those involved and, as I said on the day, I look forward to seeing some of them sitting on the red or green benches in years to come.