The Jurist 2013 Issue 2

Join Minter Ellison — it’s where you can build a successful, long-term legal career YOUR PASSION YOUR CAREER YOUR FIRM When you join Minter Ellison, you become part of a great law firm – a firm that works with clients across all industries and sectors.

We deliver our services across core global practice areas and industry sectors; we represent multi-national, regional and local companies as well as government organisations and state-owned entities.

Why you should start your career at Minter Ellison Like any top tier law firm, Minter Ellison is big; we run an international practice and we work on headline assignments for leading domestic and international clients.

So what makes us different?

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Clients tells us our lawyers are easy to work with. We agree. It’s because we work as a team, collaborating across practice groups and across offices and supporting each other to get the job done. We enjoy what we do, celebrate our successes and recognise and reward individual effort.

At Minter Ellison we invest in our people. Your growth is our growth; your success is our success. We’ll support you to advance your career and help you to develop the legal and business skills needed to become a ‘trusted adviser’ to clients anywhere in the world.

Clients trust us with their complex transactions, major litigation and problems that span jurisdictions. Our lawyers are innovative thinkers, strategists, and tacticians. As one of our lawyers, you’ll be part of this elite team – closing deals, resolving disputes and solving problems.

Contact Us Application dates are as prescribed under the SA Clerkship Guideline Scheme.

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FLSA GENERAL ELECTION

GET INVOLVED IN THE 2014 FLSA COMMITTEE

FLSA GENERAL ELECTION

HOW GETTING INVOLVED IN FLSA CAN HELP YOU I originally joined the FLSA Committee half way through my third year as an Acting Competitions Coordinator. After that, I have been the Competitions Director, the Vice President and I am not serving out the last few months of my term as President.

While I have held a number of mainly Executive roles on FLSA, these opportunities are open to many people on the committee (depending on the position), and any position is an excellent way to boost your resume when applying for now hard to come by jobs.

In these three and a half years I have honestly really enjoyed my time on FLSA. While, at times, being on the committee can be

HELPING MY STUDIES

All in all, FLSA has helped me get a job in the legal profession and helped me make some of my closest friends at Law School.

Depending on how you manage your workload and how you manage it, being on FLSA can be very helpful or somewhat detrimental to your studies. In my experience, I have found that being involved in FLSA has helped my studies, both by teaching me how to manage large workloads and by helping me build relationships with many members of the Law School staff (which is very useful at times).

HELPING MY CAREER

HELPING MY SOCIAL LIFE

Aside from competitions, being involved with FLSA has helped me immeasurably in getting work in the legal profession. In particular, with the increasing number of law graduates (especially in

As some would consider most important, many of the friends I have at Law School and particularly those who are in a different year level to mine I met during my time on FLSA. If I hadn’t been involved, it’s likely that I wouldn’t know many people outside of my own cohort of students.

of work when added to a full time study load, it has also been to build my skills, my career prospects and my social circles.

employers are looking for students with a wide range of co-curricular activities on their resume and

SO WHY JOIN FLSA? Getting into the detail, FLSA has helped me in three major ways: Working with FLSA has helped me develop skills that are directly relevant to working as a graduate, particularly working in a team environment; My experience on FLSA has added much needed lines of co-curricular activities to my resume; and FLSA has put me directly in touch with professionals at Australia.

There are many reasons that someone might want to join the FLSA Committee and I can only offer you advice based on my experiences. In the end, all I can say is that I would highly recommend considering running for a position on the FLSA Committee. I have found it to be a very rewarding experience and I

If you have any questions or would like to talk about joining FLSA, please feel free to contact me org.au or by phone on 0433 622 482.

OPPORTUNITIES I HAVE HAD FROM BEING ON THE FLSA COMMITTEE In the time that I have been on FLSA I have been given a range of opportunities that I otherwise wouldn’t have had.

I have attended six interstate conferences (with accommodation and events paid for) in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

I have met, interviewed and been involved with events with many members of the judiciary, including the Hon. Chief Justice Kourakis and Justices Kelly, Vanstone, White and Gray of the Supreme Court, Judges Barrett and Tilmouth of the District Court and Justices Besanko and Lander of the Federal Court, and I will be taking up a position as Associate to the Hon. Justice Besanko next year.

I have met, interviewed and negotiated with the HR representatives and senior partners of most major law

I have built relationships with many staff in the Law School (which has been very helpful in sorting out issues

I have had the opportunity to themes, venues and set up of

I have also added a page of important co-curricular experience to my resume.

I have met and worked with many other students I otherwise wouldn’t have met.

FLSA GENERAL ELECTION

NOMINATING IN THE ELECTION FOR THE THE 2014 FLSA COMMITTEE General Committee Position Keep checking your Flinders receive an email from the university complete with a draft nomination form. You’ll need to electronically submit your nomination form before September 9 from your Flinders University email.

If you can’t choose one position to nominate for, there’s no need to fear. You can nominate for as many positions as you wish. However, nomination form for each position.

form you’ll need to have a Seconder. A seconder can be anyone who is currently enrolled in a: Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice Bachelor of Justice and Society (Law Pathways) Master of Laws Doctor of Philosophy in the You’ll also need to include a nomination statement of approximately 150 words.

9AMNOMINAT MON IONS DAY CLOS 9 SEP TEME BER 4

Executive Committee Position Nominating for a role in the Executive requires all the steps mentioned above, as well as you or your representative presenting a speech at the Open Forum (September 2). This speech should essentially be an expanded version of your nomination statement. It should include reasons for nomination, and any initiatives that you think you could successfully implement whilst acting in your role. Nominees will present their speech, followed by questions by those present at the Forum.

Please note that even if you are the only student nominating for a position on the Executive, you or your representative will still be required to present a speech.

FLSA GENERAL ELECTION

RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF FLSA The role of the FLSA President is multi faceted; not only is the President responsible for both leading and managing the General Committee and Executive, but they also represent FLSA as a whole.

In many ways, the President is the centre of the Association as he or she is directly and indirectly responsible for any and all aspects of FLSA.

KEY TASKS Although the President is not he or she is required to oversee all portfolios on the committee.

The President must be in regular communication with the heads of each portfolio to ensure the events and initiatives are running smoothly.

The President is required to step in if any issues arise, and is expected to have knowledge of how each portfolio operates. He or she must to meet regularly with the heads of each portfolio, and sometimes even individually with each member of the General Committee.

This is to ensure the President is informed about the inner workings of each portfolio, as he or she must be prepared to respond to any issues that arise.

The President is responsible for actively representing FLSA in the Law School, which involves attending regular meetings with the Dean and other staff members, and sitting on School and Faculty committees.

The President also represents FLSA amongst the wider community, as he or she sits on the South Australian Law School Council Board, together with the Law Student Society Presidents from Adelaide University and UniSA. Furthermore, The President, together with the Vice President, represents FLSA on a national level at the Australian Law Students’ Association Council, which takes

place three times a year. This Council is comprised of Law Student Society representatives from law schools all around Australia.

KEY OPPORTUNITIES While this is a position of great responsibility, it provides students with unique opportunities to form networks with law students within their law school, from across Australia, as well as connect with the legal profession. As the President is expected to represent FLSA and its student members, this position involves a high level of exposure to legal practitioners, members of the judiciary, elected

President is expected to liaise with these stakeholders at events such as Careers Fairs, competitions occasions.

TIPS FOR THOSE NOMINATING This role is not a part-time commitment. Those considering taking on this role should be prepared to dedicate a large portion of their time to this position, not only during the two semesters, but in the summer holidays, mid-year and mid-semester breaks. The President is expected to devote more time to FLSA than any other member of the Committee, and realistically should be prepared to allow 20 hours or more per week to this position.

Time management and dispute resolution skills are a requirement.

While this is a daunting role, it provides unique opportunities to law students. It allows the largest exposure possible to the legal profession in a student organisation, a large amount of practical experience, and, when performed to a high standard, yields incredible rewards that few students are able to attain 5

otherwise.

The President of the FLSA Committee must be able to manage a committee of 25 students, have an enthusiasm for the work FLSA does, and maintain a determination to produce highquality work throughout his or her term on the Committee.

For more information about this role, please contact David Mason

FLSA GENERAL ELECTION

GET INVOLVED IN THE ADMINISTRATION PORTFOLIO The Administration Portfolio is made up a number of different areas all working towards the These positions include Secretary, Treasurer, Sponsorship Director, IT

SECRETARY (Executive Position) The Secretary is the Public responsible for the administrative management of FLSA. The Secretary also oversees the

ways, including online presence, merchandising and lecture announcements. Your familiarity with social media will come in handy as you’ll be required to regularly update the FLSA Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Acting in the position of Marketing to develop public speaking skills, and justify all that ‘study’ time spent on Facebook.

marketing strategies for the association.

As Secretary you are given a number of opportunities to liaise with members of Law School staff, as well as develop your organisational skills.

Currently the Secretary is Georgina Landon, who can be contacted via

IT OFFICER with the opportunity to put those hours spent procrastinating on

administration of the FLSA website, as well as resolving any IT issues.

This includes setting up email addresses for committee members at the beginning of their term and facilitating access to online sales.

MARKETING OFFICER in promoting FLSA in a variety of

interested in getting to know the HR Departments around Adelaide before clerkships come round, this position is for you.

Currently the Sponsorship Director is Jess Kamleh, who can be contacted via sponsorship.

TREASURER (Executive Position) The Treasurer also falls within Administration and is responsible

would include taking minutes at meetings, assisting with elections and generally assisting the President and Vice-President. The Secretary is also required to assist

sponsorship obligations. You’ll also be required to source and develop sponsorship opportunities all year round. The Sponsorship Director is required to liaise with many

job of the Treasurer is to manage

transfers to suppliers and writing cheques to reimburse committee members. The second aspect is to keep an eye on the budget - both overall and for individual events - to ensure that the rest of the committee has an informed they’re deciding to spend money on something. If you enjoy being The rest of the committee will no doubt want to spend money on all sorts of things - your job is often to ground the discussion and ensure we’re getting the most value for our members’ money.

Currently the Treasurer is Tom Schinckel, who can be contacted

SPONSORSHIP DIRECTOR (Executive Position) Finally, the Sponsorship Director is responsible for FLSA’s relationships with our sponsors to provide revenue to the Association.

As Sponsorship Director you’ll be required to work with all portfolios

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FLSA GENERAL ELECTION

GET INVOLVED IN THE ACTIVITIES PORTFOLIO In a nutshell, the Activities team coordinates the social events that run each semester. The Activities Director sits on the Executive Committee, and is the direct supervisor of two Activities Coordinators and a First Year Representative (Activities).

Over the course of the year, the Activities team organises two Pub Crawls, the annual Law Ball, opening and closing parties at the beginning and end of each semester, a Quiz Night, an equity event (this year it was a bowling night), and other miscellaneous events that vary from year to year.

In the weeks leading up to each social event, the Activities team is required to spend up to 1-2 hours a week planning the event. For example, organising a pub crawl requires regular communication with shirt manufacturers to ensure the shirts will be ready on time, and negotiation with venues in the Adelaide CBD for drinks specials.

The annual Law Ball is the largest event of the year, and involves organising a venue, negotiating food and drink supplied by the venue, sourcing a DJ and photographer, settling on a theme for the night, and arriving early to decorate the venue in accordance with this theme.

Activities positions are fairly large amounts of public speaking or liaising with members of the legal profession, judiciary, or community. However, good written and verbal communication skills are essential, as the Coordinators and Director must communicate with venues and other contacts through phone, email, and in person.

Like any other on the FLSA committee, this portfolio allows students to expand their social networks, and enrich their university experience.

However, with a position in the Activities portfolio not only will social events, you will have the satisfaction of seeing your event through from initial planning stages to the night itself.

For more information about this portfolio, please contact Rachel org.au.

This portfolio suits anyone who is considering a career in Events Management, or who would simply like to improve their time management and organisation abilities. With each social event, the Activities Team is given an opportunity to test their creative abilities, as they will be expected to design a new pub craw shirt each semester, produce various marketing materials to advertise the events, and brainstorm a new theme for Law Ball.

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ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR (Executive Position) As Activities Director, you’ll need to have excellent organisational skills. The position requires you to oversee the running of the major social events run by FLSA and to effectively deal with any issues that may arise. The Activities Director is also required to communicate with the Sponsorship Director to ensure that all obligations are met.

Rachel Wang is the current Activities Director, who can be contacted via activities.director@

ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR As an Activities Coordinator, you’ll be delegated a major event for each semester of the year. Again, you’ll need excellent organisational skills as you’ll be required to coordinate all aspects of each event, including venue bookings, ticket sales, etc.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE FLSA COMMITTEE OPEN 9:00AM MONDAY 2 SEPTEMBER

CLOSE 9:00AM MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER * PEOPLE NOMINATING FOR THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MUST GIVE A SPEECH AT THE AGM AT 11:00AM ON MONDAY 2 SEPTEMBER IN LWCM NORTH 5 8

VOTING FOR THE FLSA COMMITTEE OPENS 12:00PM WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER

CLOSES 12:00PM WEDNESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER * THE ELECTION RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY EMAIL AND A POST ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE ON WEDNESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 9

FLSA GENERAL ELECTION

GET INVOLVED IN THE CAREERS, EDUCATION & WELLBEING PORTFOLIO The Careers, Education and Wellbeing portfolio consists of the Vice President, who is responsible for managing the

Representative (Careers and Education).

The portfolio’s primary task is to produce the annual Careers Guide, which is distributed to law students at the Careers Fair in Semester 1. The portfolio also assists with the preparation of the Careers Fair, and coordinates information seminars throughout the year on topics such as career planning, exam revision and job interviews. Members of the portfolio also advocate for the student body through their position on Law School committees.

Furthermore, the portfolio coordinates a week of activities and social events in Semester 2 to promote and raise awareness of mental health and the importance of maintaining physical and mental wellbeing.

VICE PRESIDENT (Executive Position) The Vice President requires good management and leadership skills. He or she is responsible for planning the Careers Guide, and liaising with the Careers & Employer Liaison Centre, legal practitioners, academics, and politicians to secure articles for the Guide. The Vice President must then delegate a series of tasks to the Careers, Education each be responsible for separate portions and aspect of the Careers Guide.

The Vice-President also has a number of administrative roles, including attending meetings on Law School Committees and Focus Groups, coordinating

initiatives with other members in the university community, as well as other tasks that may come up.

As Vice President, you are also the ALSA Representative on the FLSA Committee, which involves promoting the ALSA Conference and attending the three ALSA Council Meetings that are held each year across the country.

You will need to have good communication and time management skills to be able to succeed in this position. However, while it is a lot of work, it is

CAREERS OFFICER with the preparation of the Careers Guide. This may involve conducting interviews, contributing articles and sourcing information for the Careers Directory. involved with coordinating career planning seminars, which may involve liaising with the Careers and Employer Liaison Centre.

EDUCATION OFFICER

to contribute an equal amount of work to the Careers Guide.

This may involve conducting interviews, contributing articles, and proofreading the Guide in its

involved in organising seminars throughout the Semester, particularly exam skills seminars. to the students who are looking for more information on study skills, and has a position on the Law School Teaching and Learning Committee to advocate for the students’ interests.

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EQUITY AND WELLBEING OFFICER also involved in the production of the Careers Guide, as the Guide often has a small section on the importance of maintaining good relationships and physical and mental health. The Wellbeing conduct interviews, contribute to and proofread articles in the leadup to the Guide’s publication.

Primarily, however, the Wellbeing coordinating Wellbeing Week in semester 2. This week involves a variety of social events and activities to promote a healthy lifestyle and mental health.

These typically include a BBQ or breakfast, a panel session with legal practitioners, politicians and academics speaking to a set topic relating to wellbeing, and a quiz night to raise money for a good cause.

FLSA GENERAL ELECTION

GET INVOLVED IN THE COMPETITIONS PORTFOLIO The Competitions Portfolio is managed by the Competitions Director and administers the competitions run by FLSA each year. These competitions include the Open Moot, Witness Examination, Client Interview, Paper Presentation, Negotiation, Mediation, First Year Moot, International Humanitarian Law Moot and the Constitutional Law Moot. The Portfolio includes the Competitions Director, the three Competitions Coordinators and the First Year Representative (Competitions). This year in order to assist with the workload of the Competitions team, a Competitions sub-committee was formed.

COMPETITIONS DIRECTOR

COMPETITIONS COORDINATOR

(Executive Position) As Competitions Director, you’ll need to have excellent organisational skills. The position requires you to oversee the running of the major internal and external competitions and to effectively deal with any issues that may arise. The Competitions Director is also required to communicate with the Sponsorship Director to ensure that all obligations are met. In the position, you’re provided with the opportunity to meet with Judges and important members of the

Currently David Mason is acting as Competitions Director, who can

As a Competitions Coordinator, you’ll be delegated a competition for each semester of the year.

Again, you’ll need excellent organisational skills as you’ll be required to develop a timetable for the competition and ensure that all materials are released on time. Other activities you may be required to do include contacting members of staff to ask for their assistance in judging and sourcing questions for your competition. You’re provided with many prospects during your time on the committee, including the opportunity to improve your communication skills and converse with Judges.

org.au.

FLSA GENERAL ELECTION

GET INVOLVED IN THE PUBLICATIONS PORTFOLIO The Editor-in-Chief, who is elected by the committee out of the four Publications Editors, heads up the Publications Team.

The Team is responsible for producing the quarterly FLSA magazine, the Jurist, as well as assisting other portfolios with various publications, such as the Careers Guide.

The Portfolio includes four Publications Editors. The Publications Team must also liaise with the Sponsorship Director to ensure all sponsorship obligations for publications are met. Working on the Publications Team gives you an opportunity to stretch your creativity. You’ll be striving to law student pick up your glossy magazine.

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A position on the Publications Team will provide you with a way to improve your writing and communication skills, and you may be required to contact Members of Parliament (e.g. Penny Wong) or important members of the legal community.

Currently the Publications Editor-inChief is Michaela Olsson, who can be contacted via publications@

FLSA GENERAL ELECTION

TIPS FOR WRITING YOUR NOMINATION STATEMENT Your nomination statement should

A strong nomination statement will:

position you are nominating for.

You may be able to gather ideas from the position descriptions found on a page earlier in this publication.

1.

2.

Clearly outline your reasons for nomination. (You may also wish to make a short personal introduction, so that potential voters will know a little bit about you) Identify key issues facing students and FLSA. (Please refrain from making defamatory remarks about staff or other students).

3.

Inform voters of your skills and attributes and what you hope to achieve.

4.

If you plan on campaigning, you may wish to include a slogan or key phrase, this should appear in your election publicity.

Remember nominees are only allocated 150 words, so it’s important to be concise.

ON E S O L NS C EMBER O I T A N NOMI DAY 9 SEPT MON

FLSA GENERAL ELECTION

TIPS FOR CAMPAIGNING IN THE FLSA ELECTIONS After a long absence campaigning will again be allowed in the 2013 FLSA General Election. You are long as you adhere to all relevant University and Law School policies whilst campaigning (this includes off-campus campaigning). So, we’ve included some ideas to start you off: Facebook Page Creating a Facebook page is a great way to get the attention of students who might not ordinarily see your campus campaign.

You can also post updates and links throughout the campaign to guarantee that your friends will know when voting opens.

Slogans It’s widely that a slogan can make or break a campaign, past slogans like ‘Yes We Can’ and ‘It’s Time’

hang around to this day. If you don’t feel particularly creative there are a plethora of websites on the internet that can assist like Sloganizer.com.

the FLSA President or Secretary before placing any materials.

There are also some areas on campus that are off limits when campaigning including:

Handouts Small handouts that link to your Facebook page/email address can be a great way to ensure you’re remembered. You could pair this information with a gift (think lollies and other sweet treats) to entice students into following up the information.

During tutorials, lectures, seminars or any other class conducted by the University The libraries or computer laboratories (including the Law Labs) Remember, it’s not about attacking your rivals, it’s about attacking their ideas.

What not to do: You and your Representatives are also prohibited from defacing, obscuring or destroying materials used in the campaign of another nominee or preventing the fair conduct of the campaign. Also, although postering is encouraged, make sure you check with either

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Lastly, there are three things a good campaign needs, good friends, good ideas and good luck.

FLSA GENERAL ELECTION

MISTAKES TO AVOID WHILE CAMPAIGNING IN THE ELECTION Everyone makes mistakes, but in politics even the smallest mistake can cost an election.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the more entertaining mistakes in Australian political history so you know what to avoid.

Campaigning Mistakes in the lead up to the 2013 Federal Election Liberal candidate James Diaz’s inability to state any of the six points in the Liberal Party’s “Six Point Plan” to stop the boats.

One Nation candidate Stephanie Bannister’s lack of understanding about multiple religions: “I don’t oppose Islam as a country, but their laws should not be welcome here.”

“Less than 2% of them follow Haram” “Jews aren’t under haram they follow their own religion under Jesus Christ” Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s appeal to the youth of including a shot after an unfortunate shaving incident.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s unfortunate slip of the tongue: “No one, however smart however well-educated, however experienced, is the suppository of all wisdom and I believe that we will be a much better government because we have a very strong team.”

“Round and Round” by Super Best Friends is a music video starring some of the nation’s leaders. Whilst the song is catchy, it is evident that its stars should stick to their day jobs.

Campainging Mistakes of History In 2008, NSW Police Minister, Matt Brown, was caught with his trousers down during a post-budget celebration.

In 2008, the Liberal Party’s WA leader was accused of snapping a Labor MP’s bra and making sexist comments.

These accusations lead to his resignation 4 months later.

In 2006, Kim Beazley gave his condolences to Rove McManus after losing his wife Belinda Emmett to cancer. He released a statement saying: “Today, our thoughts and the thoughts of many, many Australians will be with Karl Rove as he goes through the very sad process of burying his beloved wife.”

It appeared he confused Rove McManus with George Dubya’s political aid, Karl Rove.

In 2005, Mark Latham resigned sporting a new haircut, which had people questioning whether or not he was a serial killer.

In 2004, opposition leader Mark Latham shook the then Prime Minister John Howard’s hand in a violent manner.

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Paul Keating calling Labor candidate Peter Knott “the c—t from the pie shop” after an administrative error.

Democrat Cheryl Kernot’s 1997 affair with Labor Minister Gareth Evans.

In 1995, whilst Alexander Downer was promoting the Liberal Party’s slogan “The things that matter” he made a joke, saying that the footwear industry might call it “The Thongs that Matter”. Feeling he was on a roll, Downer moved on to another joke, declaring abusive, violent husbands might refer to his policy as “The Things that Batter”. The room was stunned into silence. Downer’s approval rating plummeted and in 1995 he resigned as leader.

In 1994, Paul Keating put an interjecting shadow treasurer, Peter Costello, back in his place after questioning how “macho” he was and asking if his opinion of Costello as a was correct.

In 1993, Liberal leader John Hewson was unable to adequately answer whether the price of a birthday cake would rise due to the inclusion of GST. In 1986, Prime Minister Bob Hawke thought he was being assassinated at a press conference discussing uranium mining. After a loud bang, caused by a light bulb exploding, the PM dropped Christ”.

FLSA GENERAL ELECTION

VOTING IN THE ELECTION FOR THE

THE 2014 FLSA COMMITTEE Now that you’ve submitted your nomination form the voting period is all that stands between you and your shiny new FLSA position. This year the voting period will run from the 11th of September until the 18th of September. There are a few improvements to the voting system this year, making it easier than ever to vote.

FLSA has teamed up with the Law School to ensure that voting period will be easier for both staff and students. This year students will be able to participate in the election via the University’s Online Voting System. This not only reduces the amount of emails received but means that you can vote from anywhere at any time during the voting period. On the 11th of September you will receive an email in your University account providing you with a link to the nomination statements and ballot.

OM ER TO R F N E IS OP1 SEPTEMB BER G N I T VO SDAY 1 SEPTEM DNE SDAY 18 E W M 12P M WEDNE 12P 14

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THE RHINOCEROS PARTY OF CANADA Policies: Ending crime by abolishing all laws, repealing the law of gravity, annexing the US and Antarctica, storing all of the country’s nuclear political waste there for years”), enforcing higher education by building taller schools. they nominated a professional clown, and gained hundreds of votes in another where they ran a candidate with the exact same name as the frontrunner

MISS GREAT BRITAIN PARTY Candidates: Must all be veterans of the Miss Great Britain Beauty Contest Slogan: “Making Westminster sexy, not sleazy” Policies: The creation of a British Bank Holiday which encourages people to look fabulous

THE CANADIAN EXTREME WRESTLING PARTY

THE AMERICAN COMMON SENSE PARTY

Candidate Selection: Staged battle, where last person standing was selected

Slogan: “Actual pragmatic solutions”

THE WORK LESS PARTY Slogan: “Alarm Clocks Kill Dreams” Policies: The 32 Hour Work Week

MISS GREAT BRITAIN PARTY

THE GUNS AND DOPE PARTY

Candidates: Must all be veterans of the Miss Great Britain Beauty Contest

Philosophy: If right wing gun lovers and left wing drug users could come together, they could form an unstoppable majority

Slogan: “Making Westminster sexy, not sleazy” Policies: The creation of a British Bank Holiday which encourages people to look fabulous

Slogan: “I’ll tolerate your hobbies, if you tolerate mine” Policies: Promised to replace one third of Congress with ostriches

OF SINGLE-ISSUE PARTIES

WORLD MAP 16

THE BEER LOVERS PARTY OF BELARUS

THE DONALD DUCK PARTY Philosophy: Created as a tribute to the famous Disney character Policies: Free liquor and wider sidewalks

POLISH BEER LOVERS PARTY Policies: promoting beer drinking instead of vodka

Slogan: “For the cleanliness and quality of Mascot: Drunken hedgehog Leader: First chairman was arrested for hooliganism

THE McGILLICUDDY SERIOUS PARTY Policies: Changing voting age to only under 18, mandatory homosexuality for 1/3 of the population, sand as legal tender, leaving beer on beaches so that invading armies will get drunk, free manure for all, limiting the speed of light, free castrations barriers after placing them in concrete Candidate Selection: Hand-to-hand combat with swords made from newspaper, musical chairs

THE DEADLY SERIOUS PARTY Policies: penguins to protect Australian coasts from an invasion from Argentina

PARTY! PARTY! PARTY! Policies:

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AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION

GET INVOLVED IN THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION

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AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION

LABOR CANDIDATE RICK

SARRE

GIVEN THE RESPONSE TO RECENT CHANGES TO UNIVERSITY FUNDING, HOW DOES THE LABOR PARTY INTEND TO ENGAGE WITH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS? The Labor Party is keen to continue its close association with young people. I am happy to be part of that quest.

My wife and I are also parents of two teenagers aged 17 and 19. They keep us youthful in our outlook.

ensure that a parent’s background is not the main determinant of their child’s choices; and

I am no longer a young person, but I am fortunate to have been able to remain around young people almost every day of my adult working life. At the age of 27 I returned to Adelaide from North America having studied in universities in Canada and the USA. While juggling legal practice

Statistics from the Australian Electoral Commission reveal that 25 per cent of newly eligible young voters failed to enrol for this election. That’s about 400,000 potential voters who appear disenchanted with the system.

This is a tragedy.

provide for those less welloff in our society, that is, to ensure that no Australian gets left behind.

world of tertiary teaching. I am now the longest serving law and legal studies lecturer in the University of South Australia and only one of a handful of professors with three decades of tertiary teaching experience not only in this country but in Hong Kong, Sweden and the USA. In 2008 I received a national Carrick Citation for my contributions to student learning in higher education.

Moreover, I have been Vice President of the Adelaide University Football Club for some years. I was a volunteer for Camp Quality (children living with cancer) from 1985 to 1994. I still run Children’s Camps each year for our church, and I have coordinated the children in our street’s Norwood Christmas Pageant entry every November for the past four years.

Something is happening in the minds and hearts of at least 400,000 young Australians that encourages them to squander the privilege of suffrage. Labor is hoping to rectify that malaise.

Their representatives will do that by indicating their commitment to education and training, and then by employing good listening skills.

Before I list a few key initiatives, let me list a number of values that am, with my Labor colleagues, at the forefront of those who are keen to: encourage fairness and the equality of opportunity, and to ensure that all Australians get the start they deserve, and have the best opportunity to make their own way;

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EDUCATION Labor’s Better Schools Plan will deliver an extra $15 billion of funding if every State and Territory time, fund all schools consistently based on student need. Extra funding, through loadings, factors in other conditions such as the percentage of children from lowincome families, students with disabilities, children from nonEnglish speaking backgrounds, and those living in rural and remote areas.

Those old enough to remember will recall Gough Whitlam who, as Prime Minister, brought into being free tertiary education. I was a student at Adelaide University in 1974 when these reforms opened the doors of our universities to families who had not contemplated that their children would ever go to university.

In 2012, there were 36,000 more students from disadvantaged backgrounds attending university in Australia than in 2007.

TRAINING Labor continues to encourage young people to get the best from their training opportunities. Labor is committed to funding trade training centres in order to enable all secondary school students to have access to skills training.

Labor has extended ‘Earn or Learn’ requirements to those aged 21, part of broader changes to the Youth Allowance, has increased dependent 16–19 year olds in full time secondary study. It is also driving a new Indigenous Youth Career Pathways Program that will provide school-based traineeships to assist these students with the transition from school into further education or work.

Labor is continuing to build a Vocational Education and Training (VET) system based upon that connects to pathways in work, learning and the community.

This involves the accreditation of that are developed by Industry Skills Councils in cooperation with industry stakeholders and the new Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency. Our obligation is not only to ensure the next generation have the same enjoying, but to make sure their opportunities are even greater.

HEALTH Labor also recognises that young and thus is committed to providing age appropriate health services, access to impartial medical advice, privacy of medical records, drug and alcohol education and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

It is adopting an integrated healthbased approach to youth suicide that works with existing community services, including strategies to address depression, neglect, abuse, drug and alcohol problems, school and workplace bullying, and all forms of discrimination.

To ensure that young people are

not disproportionately affected by violence either as victims or perpetrators, Labor will continue to work in partnership with young people to tackle street violence and the perceptions of street violence in our community. As a criminologist, I am willing (and

access this data, to try to make sense of it and to build on our incredible knowledge-base.

I want to mention a young Australian man, aged 35, a Mr Jeremy Heimans. He is most famous as the entrepreneur who started the on-line social

this process.

NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK Young people are communicating on a scale and at speeds never before thought possible.

Investments in infrastructure like the NBN will spur innovation and drive productivity across our economy. Investments in Australian innovation and industry hubs will see good ideas become great products, and which are marketed to the world. This is especially exciting when one thinks of the possibilities in the renewable energy sector.

INNOVATIONS IN THINKING I recently came across a book

by Daniel Yankelovich, Coming to Public Judgement: Making Democracy in a Complex World.

In this book Dr Yankelovich laments that too many problems are discussed exclusively by elites for elites. What he wants is a new balance, indeed a new conversation between the public and those doing the research. These experts have the information, but too often they ignore or even denigrate the public view.

Let there be no doubt: when experts claim to use expertise that only they are capable of knowing, the faith that the public should have in its better educated citizens starts on a steep downward spiral.

Unless the communication is done well, the more the experts push, the more the public will push back.

Educated young people are the new communicators. The information is plentiful: it just has to be sifted and marshalled appropriately. I am told that of all the electronic data storage that has ever been amassed, 90% of it, in volume, was stored in the last two years. There is no time to waste for those who are willing to

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New York and runs an organisation called Purpose, advising the big aid agencies around the world (for example, those that promote regional food security, a cleaner environment and equal rights).

He advises them on how best to communicate their ideas. He works through social media, something my generation still struggles with.

He tells the story that one of the most celebrated anti-corruption activists in India (a man named Anna Hazare) asked people to leave a missed call on his mobile phone, to test the spread of his message. Over time 35 million people responded. This is mass communication at another level.

This is the connectivity of the 21st century. This is where the youth demographic comes into its own.

Here are some challenges that need to be faced by this current generation of young minds using the information of our age: There is food for everyone in the world, but its maldistribution and waste means millions go hungry each day.

The world has access to greater and more sophisticated weaponry than ever before, but national and global security remains elusive.

We are all living longer than our forebears (the popular catch-cry is that in the next 5 years, the number of people over 65 will outnumber the number of children under history) but our health dollar is struggling to keep up and mental health problems are heading towards a crisis point worldwide and will only become more acute as the population continues to age.

Continued on page 26.

AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION

THE HON. CHRISTOPHER

PYNE

GIVEN THAT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ARE TRADITIONALLY MORE LEFT WING, HOW DOES THE LIBERAL PARTY INTEND TO ENGAGE WITH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS? In my electorate of Sturt, over 12,000 electors are under the age of 25. All of these young people want to be heard and they are a demographic that is a crucial part of our nation’s future. They are also a demographic that should be able to choose their own destiny.

As a parent of four young children currently in school, I want to empower young people with a real choice for their own destiny.

As Australians, we live in a lucky country. This is a country that allows young people with considerable opportunities and Whether it is to choose to continue their education either at TAFE or at university, whether they choose to travel or enter the work force, there are many choices open to them.

I very much support the basic principle that young people should be able to choose what they want to do in life. The Liberal Party supports as a core principle the right of individual choice.

I have been fortunate to be in Parliament representing Sturt for twenty years. At every stage over the twenty years I have held true to my belief that individuals rather than governments are best equipped to make their own decisions for their future. This concept of freedom appeals to

students and manifests itself in a variety of issues that are relevant to young people. Over the last six years of a federal Labor Government the government has enacted to restrict freedoms of all Australians and most concerning the restriction of freedom for young people.

I often hear that young people feel disenfranchised with our political system, or that politicians do not show enough interest in the lives of young people or their futures, though that certainly does not resonate with how I represent my constituency both locally and in the Federal Parliament. Young people are indeed our future. In less than 10 years, the young people of today will be focussed on ensuring their jobs are secure and their capacity to pay the bills.

For many students this is their reality while they study.

It is easy to mistakenly presume that issues at a national level, such as job security, cost of living and economic management, do not apply to young people because young people are living in the “now”. Clearly these views are misguided as the future of our on young people, because they represent our future business leaders, our future parents and

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our future community. And it is our young generation that will be paying off Labor’s debt. Because they will inherit these challenges, the best way for young people to inherit a strong future is to engage and participate now.

Only 15 years ago sending a letter was mainstream and it could take weeks for a turnaround in correspondence. Today, the number of letters we send or stamps we buy pales into

changes of media and information have meant that the entire landscape of the communication between a politician and their electors has changed.

For some, this new medium can be “scary” because its new and different. For me, however, it represents an important part of my daily responsibilities. I am an avid user of Facebook, not because it is simply a gesture, but because it provides the capacity to discuss and communicate with people.

Before if I wanted to hear from people about a particular issue, it could take weeks. Today, a status update on Facebook can reach far more and instantly. I run my own Facebook page and my own email account because I recognize that otherwise what’s the point? Sure,

I may not agree with everything people say to me, but a robust discussion about important issues is a healthy and important part of our democracy.

I encourage young people to participate in the national debate.

Whether this means engaging with politicians on social media, attending local forums or sending a letter, engagement is crucial. In the lead up to the Federal Election on September 7, I encourage you to choose your own destiny. The nation is in your hands, because you are our future.

Christopher Pyne is the Liberal Federal Member for Sturt, the Opposition’s spokesman on Education, Apprenticeships and Training, and also the Manager of Opposition Business in the House elected to Parliament in 1993 at the age of 25. He can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook. com/christopher.pyne.

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AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION

SENATOR SARAH

HANSONYOUNG GIVEN THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE, HOW DO THE AUSTRALIAN GREENS INTEND TO ENGAGE WITH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS? This is an important question which has been put forward by the Flinders Law Students Association because young people, and in particular university students, are an extremely important voting demographic. As someone who

on climate, refugees and social justice, a lot of young voters feel disillusioned. What young voters need to know is that there is another choice and a vote for the Greens is a vote for a fairer, more caring Australia.

university, I could not agree more with this statement. I remember running as for Student Association President at Adelaide University as an independent candidate, breaking the age old tradition of Labor left and right candidates who typically ran for this position.

I remember being nervous and excited, the kinds of positive and negative reactions I received and just how involved university students were in selecting their representatives. A strong campaign was run against me in that election but I was determined to stand up, as a strong alternative voice, for all of the students at the university.

We Greens have strong, consistent policies to look after the environment, education, health, refugees and the economy. As the old parties play politics with refugees’ lives, Australians need to know there is a genuine alternative.

The young voter is someone who and high expectation, excited to contribute to the decisions that will shape our country. However, with Labor and the Liberals locked in an abysmal race to the bottom

But like those days of student election campaigning at Adelaide Uni there will be those that regard the Greens as a threat to the status quo. The fact is that we are a threat to the status quo and I’m still just as determined to stand up for the things that matter. I went on to independent Student Association president ever elected. I went on to be the youngest woman ever elected to the Senate and I was elected because the people around me were ready for change.

We need changes to youth allowance. With two thirds of Australian students living below

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the poverty line we need to acknowledge that we aren’t supporting our students. We can’t create a knowledge economy by forcing students to live in poverty or expect students to succeed in their studies while they are worried about whether they will be able to eat or pay the rent. Raising Youth Allowance by $50 per week would help these students to go to class going to go hungry for the sake of their education. The Greens have a fully costed plan to lift students out of poverty by raising Youth Allowance while the old parties haven’t even acknowledged there is a problem.

We need change on funding to universities. Supporting schools by stripping away $2.3 billion from Universities doesn’t add up.

We need a world class education system, all the way from early childhood to the tertiary level.

Labor is robbing Peter to pay Paul and our country deserves better.

Instead of taking away funding from institutions we rely on to drive our knowledge economy, the government should be putting in place a real mining tax that forces the big miners to pay their fair

share. Education is an incredible opportunity that should be open to all Australians, not just a privileged few.

We need changes to the Marriage Act to remove discrimination and allow same-sex couples to marry.

The community overwhelmingly supports this essential reform and during my term as a Senator I am proud to have contributed to the momentum of this campaign. I have stood up in Parliament with bills to give same-sex couples the right to marry. The Greens want to see Australia join countries like New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Sweden and South Africa in recognising same-sex marriages. It’s time for Labor to vote in accordance with its own party platform by backing marriage equality and for Coalition members to be granted a conscience vote.

We need to change the disgraceful dialogue surrounding the refugee debate and we need to commit to a humane approach to asylum seekers. The PNG solution must be abolished as this appalling policy is not only in violation of international law, it is an attack on our generous heart as Australians.

I have met with so many people who shake their heads in absolute disbelief that this could happen.

Kevin Rudd’s radical right-wing response to refugees is shameful.

He should have joined the Greens to commit to a genuine regional response; instead, Australia will now be a wealthy country paying off one of the most impoverished countries on the planet to resettle desperate refugees. Although there is no simple solution there is a way forward. We need to urgently resettle many more assessed refugees from Indonesia and Malaysia, and increase Australia’s humanitarian intake, so that persecuted people can see ways to safely get out of camps and start a new life. We must also increase funding to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Malaysia and Indonesia, so that they can assess asylum claims faster and end the despair for people who are waiting for resettlement. These are just two of the ways in which we can help save lives today and prevent desperate people from taking these dangerous boat

journeys and the Greens have a comprehensive and fully costed policy which will give us a humane alternative rather than just moving asylum seekers out of sight and out of mind.

Finally, one of the most important changes, climate change, needs to be addressed and I am proud to stand in this election with the only party who are taking genuine action on global warming by transitioning to renewable energy.

The Greens are working harder than ever to steer Australia towards a future with 100% renewable energy and all the jobs that will bring across Australia. We have a vision of an Australia which is powered entirely by the sun, wind and water in the decades ahead, and in support of this critical transformation we want to expand Australia’s renewable energy target to at least 50% by 2030. In South Australia, the Greens are supporting local communities and a sustainable future by backing plans to build a solar-thermal plant in Port Augusta. Transitioning the Port Augusta power plants to solar thermal power will create 1800 jobs in the community, social and economic wellbeing of people living in our dry and sunny southern state. As part of the Clean Energy package negotiated and driven by the Greens, Australia now has the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, which will both help to develop and commercialise exciting new technologies like baseload solar power. These are just two of the reforms delivered by the Greens to build a cleaner, healthier, smarter Australia.

Because we are standing up for the things that matter, we are the party for young people. We don’t need to engage in cheap ploys or political tricks to convince students and young people that the Greens are standing up for them. Our policies speak for themselves.

Most of all, students and young people across Australia are ready for a change from the race to the bottom mentality of the Liberal and Labor Parties. For young people it is clear who is standing up for their support and education, their rights and the future of our fragile planet.

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In this political climate I believe the choice is clearer than ever for young people to vote Green.

AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION

POLICY ROUND-UP:

GET TO KNOW THE LABOR PARTY EDUCATION University Funding The ALP has stated that the budget surrounding the funding priorities within higher-education will be re-examined.

Government vs Independent Secondary School Funding The National Plan for School Improvement will help Australian students get the support they need, no matter where they live or what school they attend.

Government schools will continue to be fully publicly funded.

Non-government schools will receive a proportion of the per student amount, based on a school’s capacity to raise private contributions, which is like the current system.

The National Broadband Network

RICK SARRE

In the 21st century, broadband is basic infrastructure – Australian businesses need it. It has become an essential utility, just like electricity or water.

Continued from page 21.

SOCIAL ISSUES Assylum Seekers The ALP have stated that from this point forward, asylum seekers who arrive in Australia by boat will be sent to Papua New Guinea for processing and resettlement.

The ALP has also raised various issues within the Liberal Party’s turn back the boats policy, whilst also addressing the issues with forcing asylum-seekers to Indonesia.

THE ECONOMY

Same-Sex Marriage

Government Spending

Kevin Rudd has stated that within 100 days of being re-elected, a Bill will be introduced into the Parliament in order to legalise same-sex marriage.

When the GFC hit, it was jobs and putting in place the recessionbeating stimulus package. And Labor has jobs and growth front and centre today during this period of ongoing global economic uncertainty.

Mining Taxes The new Federal Resources Minister has stated that the introduction of the mining tax could have been handled better, but has ruled out making any changes.

Carbon Pricing The carbon price is embedded in the economy, it is working to reduce emissions and that is why Labor will always support a price on carbon to combat climate change.

Gender Quotas Under Labor, there are new opportunities for women’s employment in non-traditional areas. Currently Women’s representation on Australian Government boards is the highest it has ever been.

Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous People Australia’s Constitution needs to change to recognise the unique and special place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our society and culture.

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LABOR CANDIDATE FOR THE HOUSE OF REPS

We have mastered the ability to exploit the natural resources of our planet, especially for our energy needs, but sustainability is elusive, and fossil fuels remain the troubling mainstay of our economies. Renewability (the answer to man-made climate change) must be pursued with renewed vigour.

Finally, we have United Nations agencies in place to help displaced persons in need. However, they are inadequate to keep up with the 16 million people currently displaced as refugees or asylum-seekers in nations other than their own, or the 27.5 million people whom the displaced’ (meaning that they have not crossed a border but are outside of their usual place of dwelling). These numbers are likely to continue to grow rapidly. Up to 5,000 people a day are currently leaving the civil war in Syria for shelter in neighbouring countries.

I gladly join those who are prepared to tackle these challenges. We can only do so, however, if we are armed with the principles of courage, compassion, determination and commitment. These qualities are not unknown to the youth of today.

Indeed, from my experience, they are celebrated and encouraged by them.

AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION

POLICY ROUND-UP:

GET TO KNOW THE LIBERAL PARTY EDUCATION University Funding The Liberal Party will ensure the continuation of the current arrangements for university funding. They will work with the sector to reduce the burden of red tape, regulation and reporting, freeing up the sector to concentrate on delivering results and services.

Government vs Independent Secondary School Funding Through the Gonski report, The Liberal Party aim to redistribute educational funding in favour of government schools.

THE ECONOMY Government Spending Generally

fast broadband using whichever technology is the most effective we will use existing infrastructure where they can.

SOCIAL ISSUES Assylum Seekers The Liberal Party will give priority in processing to offshore special humanitarian visa applicants, over illegal boat arrivals. They will ensure offshore special humanitarian visa applicants receive priority in obtaining permanent residency in Australian over illegal boat arrivals. They will boost rigorous offshore processing for illegal arrivals so that bad behaviour has consequences.

Same-Sex Marriage Tony Abbott is of the position that

The Liberal Party are aiming to not only look for areas in which savings can be made, but they are also intending to restrain government spending as a whole.

being between one man and one woman. However, it has been hinted that the topic is to be further discussed at a later date.

Mining Taxes

Gender Quotas

The Liberal Party wants to reduce the cost base of our mining projects so that Australians projects are favoured over other countries and our project move further up the ladder on resource companies’ development plans.

The Liberal Party holds the view that the appointment of women to positions for reasons other than merit and excellence could be counterproductive and work against their long term interests.

Carbon Pricing The Liberal Party will act immediately to abolish the carbon tax. On day one of a new government we will instruct the Department of Prime Minster and Cabinet to draft legislation to repeal the carbon tax.

Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous People An acknowledgement of Aboriginal would complete the Constitution rather than change it. Aboriginal people need to know that they will never be regarded as just a historical footnote to modern Australia.

The National Broadband Network The Liberal Party will roll out super-

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AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION

POLICY ROUND-UP:

GET TO KNOW THE AUSTRALIAN GREENS EDUCATION

The National Broadband Network

University Funding

The Australian Greens support

The Australian Greens launched a new plan to boost university funding over the next four years to improve the quality of higher education.

Broadband Network currently being built and operated by the Commonwealth. Linking Australia together through fast broadband holds out the promise of a new age of productivity, innovation and global cultural cross-pollination.

Government vs Independent Secondary School Funding The Australian Greens believe that the differences in educational outcomes should not be caused by differences in wealth, income, power, possessions or location.

Universal access to high quality education is fundamental to Australia’s economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, well-

SOCIAL ISSUES Asylum Seekers The Australian Greens want to and abolish offshore processing and other forms of punitive or discriminatory treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.

Same-Sex Marriage

THE ECONOMY Government Spending Generally The Australian Greens believe that be sustainable over the longterm, it is appropriate to stimulate the economy during economic downturns and save during economic booms. Government managed so as to minimise intergenerational debt.

Mining Taxes The Greens supported the original mining tax and they will government’s mining tax.

Carbon Pricing The Greens have stated that if it wasn’t for their previous involvement with the placing of a price on carbon, billions of dollars in investment for renewable energy would never have occurred.

The Greens have previously presented Bills before Parliament concerned with the removal of the discrimination found within the Marriage Act aiming to ultimately give same-sex couples the right to marry.

Gender Quotas The Greens aim to provide discrimination of all forms. In relation to women, there has been concern that women are consistently being shut out of boardrooms, and as a result a quota should be put in place for women on boards.

Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous People An acknowledgement of Aboriginal would complete the Constitution rather than change it. Aboriginal people need to know that they will never be regarded as just a historical footnote to modern Australia.

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AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION

FROM THE GRASS ROOTS:

GETTING INVOLVED IN POLITICS EARLY We live in one of the most prosperous liberal democracies in the world.

A gap year working and travelling in debt-ridden Europe really opened my eyes to just how fortunate I was to have grown up happy, healthy and safe with every newfound appreciation ignited a desire within me to make a contribution to the country that has given me so much.

I felt a strong connection with the values of the Labor party, and I was impressed by their progress and policy development in key areas close to my heart such as the Better Schools Plan, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, The National Broadband Network, and workplace rights.

So I decided to join Young Labor early this year and get on board with the election campaign as a one of the most fun, rewarding and challenging experiences I have ever had.

Young Labor is probably not what you would expect from a youth wing of a political party. We are not a bunch of political nerds or hardcore extremists with unrealistic aspirations that are often associated with youth politics.

Young Labor is about hanging out and, more often than not, having a few drinks with a group of people who share interests and are passionate about making realistic and positive change. We meet up every few months for caucus which entails heated debates and much heckling which becomes rather entertaining, particularly towards the end of the night. We often get together for workshops, meet with members of parliament and candidates, not to mention attend

All in all it is a far better introduction to politics than going along to your local branch

great time to join a political party, particularly the youth branch. You will undoubtedly get caught up in the passion of the party and there is no end to volunteering opportunities.

You get to experience party politics from the grass roots. For the months leading up until an election you will spend hours phone polling and doorknocking, out in the elements rain or shine, in suburbs you did not know existed, and have the opportunity to appreciate the lives of everyday people and their needs and struggles.

It can often be a really humbling experience.

Then there is the adrenaline rush, the day the election is called, when everyone races out with wire and ladders to put up the thousands of

country, to smile down upon the electorate from telephone poles for the duration of the campaign.

However, while being involved with youth politics can be lots of fun, it also forces you to deal with many confronting and contentious

problems. A perfect example of this is asylum seeker policy.

How does one balance the legality of people seeking asylum with the illegality of people smuggling?

Is it inhumane to prevent people arriving on boats from settling in Australia?

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Is it humane for people to continue to risk their lives at sea after giving their life savings to people smugglers?

Is it fair to grant refugee status to those who travel by boat, before those who have been languishing in refugee camps for years waiting for a visa? Policy can make your head spin.

I have found that being part of a political party has helped me to comprehend that not everything is clear cut. There are often no easy solutions. Sometimes politics is about learning that our world is no utopia, and that we have to compromise and do our best with the circumstances we are given.

Politicians are probably among the few who get a worse wrap than lawyers, despite the fact that the majority of them are determined hard working people who go above and beyond their job requirements to provide for their constituents.

Through my involvement with Young Labor, I have been fortunate enough to meet some outstanding people, including former Attorney General Nicola Roxon, former Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan and Minister for Youth Kate Ellis, just to name a few.

I would urge everyone to take an active role in politics no matter what your political orientation.

It has certainly helped me to sharpen my reasoning, clarify my beliefs, and form arguments that can withstand the rigour of serious debate. Participation in Young Labor has provided me with many invaluable skills and experiences that I will take with me throughout my law degree.

AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION

THE HON.

PENNY WONG INTERVIEW WITH ALYSSA SALLIS ON CAREERS IN POLITICS What does your role as a Senator involve? What are the main duties that you are involved in on a weekly basis as a Senator for South Australia?

I suppose I am also a Minister, so to be honest that takes up the majority of my time. The way I think about the difference between the Senator role and the Minister role is, that as a Senator you’re representing your community; you’re alleged by all of South Australia and you represent the community’s interests. You try and make sure that you support particular things that are going on within the South Australian Community. For example, I do a lot around the Chinese New Year and those sorts of events with the Chinese community. You also constituents, so if someone has an issue, and they want me to write to someone or they want us to do something about how they are being treated by a government department (or something like that), we can advocate on their behalf.

While you were studying at University, were you involved in any politics or student political organisations?

Do you think that being involved in politics at University is necessary for your career later on?

I initially wasn’t, I knew a few student politicians and they weren’t the most fun people but then I met a lot that were a lot more fun.

It’s a paradoxical story, because the then Labour Government was introducing the HECS scheme.

Back then I didn’t agree with it, as I had a view that education should be free. Now, as Finance Minister, I think it was probably the right policy, provided the money goes back in (as it has), to bring more people into University, particularly

Can I turn the question around? I think the question is, “Do you want to be a Politician?” I would say to most people, do other things as well. Although I was involved in politics, I didn’t decide I wanted to run for parliament for a while. I practised as a lawyer then went interstate. And a part of why I was reluctant or unsure about whether I wanted to take that path was because I didn’t know whether there was actually any point. I wasn’t sure if you could make a difference in this kind of job or whether the system was going to create certain outcomes, no matter who was in there. It took me a while to change that view.

a bunch of other students outside the Labor party conference (which is kind of funny), and the vote inside the conference or convention as we called it to support the left’s position was won by a few votes and I thought that one vote in there was more useful. and so I got involved in the Labor party. I then got involved in the Labor Parliament while I was at University.

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I think the people who want to work for a better world, a better community; they have to make a decision about what is the arena they want to do that in - and that may change. It might be that for a while that you work for a lawyer in an area that you think is important in terms of your perspective around social justice. You might

do something else as well, that is about pursuing your philosophical views.

What is important is that you work out the ways in which you want to contribute, moreso than whether to be a student politician or not. I mean, you learn things in student politics, you obviously actually think it is more important to think about: “What do I want to do? How do I want to contribute, and what are the ways in which I can?” Remember your life is a whole series of different careers or different opportunities. You don’t just make one choice at 22 years old and that’s it.

So you would recommend for students who are considering a career in politics, to do something else?

No I recommend that they work out what they really want to do. If they want to go into politics, then they have to really want to, and hopefully for the right reasons, because it’s not very glamorous.

I often think, if you do it for the glamour – or the “show business for ugly people” (laughter) – if you do it because you like being on TV and important, it’s not worth it.

You’re away from your family, a lot of people don’t like you because you’re a politician, so you have to really want to do it. Work out if it is what you really want to do, or whether there are other ways in which you can pursue your ethics.

It is encouraged for law students to be involved in some form of co-curricular activity while they’re studying, getting work experience.

What were the kinds of things that you did while you were studying?

Well, I worked. I was involved in the Labor club, I was involved in for a while; drama; a reasonable amount of sport; then I ended up working. I was working in an part of my law degree.

University is a time of great development and I think particularly for young people, it’s really important that you

give yourself the space and the opportunities to develop in a whole different range of ways. It’s not just the issue of working hard on your studies, it’s all the different ways in which you can move on from the school environment, to something that is broader. Giving yourself those opportunities is a good thing for you as a person, and not just for your career.

You practised as a lawyer in Adelaide before being elected.

How did the skills that you developed as a lawyer assist you as you then went into politics?

I think law is a good degree for teaching you how to think. It teaches you the skill of sorting a lot of information and identifying the important questions to ask in order to interrogate that information.

That’s a good skill for a politician, because you are often in a new policy area and therefore you need to work out, “what are the real questions I need to ask?”

This is one of the key ways to understand how this policy or this law operates.

For me on a personal level, the person who I worked for or underneath was the managing partner, he was a lawyer who was very attentive to detail and was a really methodical solicitor. He used to work through problems and evidence in a very methodical way, whereas I was probably a more strategic thinker and say, “This is how you could run this case, these are the arguments you could run, this is how tactically you could manage it.”

It was really good for me to work with him because what he made me develop was a skillset was not my instinctive skill set. I’ve always been grateful for that because it meant that I learned to do something that wasn’t my natural instinct. I think it made me a better lawyer and certainly a better politician and Minister. They were skills that were important for me to develop. Sometimes it is good to do the things that are hard for you.

In February of this year, there was a panel on ABC’s ‘Q & A’.

It addressed the issue of young people being deterred from politics due to the way politicians are portrayed in the media.

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What would you say to those people that may be deterred?

First I can understand it, I actually worry because leaving aside what people’s political views are, I actually think, particularly for young women watching how the Prime Minister is being treated (Julia Gillard at this point) it’s a pretty rational decision to say “well I am never going to let myself be in that position.” That really saddens me because the whole point of that there will be seconds and thirds, and because it changes how you and other people think about your possibility. Someone put it really well the other day when they said, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” If you see women in positions of authority, positions of responsibility, whether or not you want to become Prime Minister or not doesn’t matter, it still changes how you might perceive your opportunity and your aspirations.

So I suppose I’ll come back to what I said earlier, which is you have to really want to do it.

Because if you don’t really want to, you won’t be determined.

I think that I am a feminist and a progressive person and if I look at the things that I care about in today’s country, and think about all the changes which have been made, they’ve been made because community activist groups have pressed for them, but ultimately they’ve been made because governments and parliaments decided that they would introduce a Race Discrimination Act or a Sex Discrimination Act or change the Family Law Act put in place Medicare or Superannuation. So I think you have to remember what’s important and why you do it, and even the more than that - you have to be committed. any other advice you would give to students who are beginning?

The best advice I ever got was: Find your own voice. “Speak with your own voice because it will always be more powerful”.

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