Students can hone skills for parliament

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015: YOUNG people with a hankering for politics and community representation can get started on their journey by entering the My First Speech Competition.High school students in years 10 to 12 can hone an important skill for politicians by writing their first speech, and three winners will then be invited to present their speech live at Parliament House.An MP’s first speech is an important one as it provides an opportunity to outline the issues they are passionate about.Students are asked to imagine that they are a newly elected MP and write and present a three minute speech.A Rockhampton student, Chay Conaglen (above), took out the top place last year, so I encourage students in the region to take part.First, second and third place winners will be flown to Canberra with a parent or guardian to present their speech to Parliament.Cash prizes include $750 for the winner ($250 to the student and $500 to the school), $350 for the runner up ($100 to the student and $250 to the school) and $175 for third place ($50 to the student and $125 to the school).This year’s entries will be judged by Member for Longman and Assistant Minister for Innovation Wyatt Roy MP, Member for Griffith Terri Butler MP and Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt MP.Go to www.aph.gov.au/myfirstspeech for more details and to view the speeches of previous winners.Entries are due by Friday 23 October 2015.