OLD Parliament House in Canberra reverted to the days of political debate when 116 Year 11 and 12 students from across the country gathered for a National Schools’ Constitutional Convention from March 29-31.
Teresa Gela from St Margaret Mary’s College, Hyde Park, in Townsville; Kate Mason from Downlands College, Toowoomba; Amy Nancarrow from Ryan Catholic College, Kirwan, in Townsville, and Brigid Mellifont from St Rita’s College, Clayfield, in Brisbane, were among 22 Queenslanders who took part in the three-day debate titled “Governing Australia: Should it be fixed or flexible?”
A total of 116 students from across Australia took part in the convention and explored the question “Parliamentary terms: Should they be three or four years?”
Delegates examined a number of options and were guided by constitutional law experts in their deliberations before participating in a mock referendum.
A majority of delegates – 78 out of 116 – voted in favour of maintaining the three-year term for the House of Representatives and a six-year term for the Senate, but voted that the term be fixed, not flexible.
The decisions were incorporated into a communique, which was presented to Deputy President of the Senate, Queensland Senator John Hogg.
Other highlights of the convention included a visit to the High Court and attendance at Question Time and a Prime Minister’s reception.
