Let your voice be heard in Canberra

Federal Member for Lalor, Joanne Ryan, has urged senior high school students across the community to put their views to the parliament by entering the My First Speech Competition.

The nationwide competition is now open to all Australian secondary students enrolled in years 10 to 12. Students entering the completion will go in the running to win cash prizes and a trip to Parliament House in Canberra.

“The competition provides young people in across the Lalor community with an opportunity to present their principles and vision for our country to a judging panel, who will select three winners to present their speech, live in the parliament,” Ms Ryan said.

“Preparing and making a speech to parliament is a challenge for even the most experienced orators, but it also an extremely rewarding experience to represent the interests of your community in the House.

“This competition asks high school students to write and video a 3 minute speech as if it was their first speech to the House of Representatives.

“Members’ maiden speeches give you a clear insight into shaping of their ideology, what brought them to represent their community in the parliament and their vision for their country and community.

“I expect these speeches from young people around the country will be no different and this competition provides a platform to express those views to our current elected representatives.”

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.

Go to www.aph.gov.au/myfirstspeech for more details and to view the speeches of previous winners.

Joanne Ryan’s first speech in Parliament:

If local students email their first speech to [email protected] then Joanne Ryan will also share these on her Facebook page.

Entries are due by Friday 12 September 2014.