7TH COMMONWEALTH YOUTH PARLIAMENT
COMMONWEALTH YOUTH PARLIAMENT CYP7: NORTHERN TERRITORY STYLE Welcoming 50 Youth Parliamentarians from 27 countries to the 7th Commonwealth Youth Parliament
Hon. Kezia Purick MLA is the Speaker
of the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory, Australia. Previously she was head of the Northern Territory’s resource industry group. She was first elected to Parliament in 2008 and re-elected in 2012 when she was also elected as Speaker. Kezia Purick has attended CPA conferences in Kenya, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia and is currently on the CPA Executive Committee as a Regional Representative for the Australia Region.
The seventh Commonwealth Youth Parliament (CYP7) commenced in Darwin, in the Northern Territory of Australia on a hot steamy tropical Monday on the 2nd November 2015 with delegates from Australia, Canada, India, Asia, the Pacific, Africa, South America, the Caribbean and the United Kingdom coming together to form the Commonwealth Youth Parliament as it convened in Australia for only the second time. The Northern Territory was very pleased to hold this event after nominating for and being chosen as the host parliament for CYP7. Young people aged 18 to 28 met as youth parliamentarians, debated legislation, experienced committee life, got a close look at politics and met sitting members of Commonwealth Parliaments. As Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in the Northern Territory, I was privileged to welcome the best from around the Commonwealth of Nations to take part in this event in Darwin as they engaged in a very busy and rewarding programme, one which was full of firsts. We commenced with an informal welcome for all youth parliamentarians, mentors, colleagues and friends in the
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Members and Guests Lounge at Parliament House on Sunday 1 November before the youth parliamentarians commenced in earnest for the week the next morning. It was an exciting time for youth parliamentarians and for us welcoming young people from all corners of the Commonwealth. They made good use of our parliamentary chamber for their debates and it was a terrific opportunity for my home Parliament to show off our facilities, our city and the considerable abilities of a small remote jurisdiction all at the same time. Day One: Speech from the Throne The first day commenced with the inaugural briefing and familiarisation for the youth parliamentarians followed by the Acting SecretaryGeneral of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Mr Joe Omorodian’s enthusiastic welcome to all delegates where he outlined the benefits and goals of the Youth Parliament Programme. This was followed by a presentation and question and answer session on the foundations of Westminster by Mr Michael Tatham, the Clerk of the Northern Territory Assembly. The session of CYP7 was then officially opened by the
Administrator of the Northern Territory, His Honour Mr John Hardy OAM. His Honour represents the Crown in our jurisdiction on behalf of the Governor-General of Australia. His Honour commenced the session with the usual Speech from the Throne outlining the course of his government’s agenda for the sittings of the 2015 Youth Parliament. This procedure emulates to some extent the formalities of Westminster tradition where the sovereign attends to open each new session of Parliament, which in the Northern Territory Assembly occurs once every four years when the Assembly convenes for the first time after an election. His Honour said (in part): “I welcome all of the Members of this parliament to the Legislative Assembly to conduct your business over the coming days. This seventh Commonwealth Youth Parliament - known as CYP7 - is a collaboration by all of its Members from around the Commonwealth. You have been drawn together in this parliament to consider important matters and pass laws for the peace, order and good government of this jurisdiction. My Government will be focusing on the wellbeing of all to ensure access and equity is a hallmark of their exercise of executive power…. In my