Students from Maitland and Woodberry have won high praise from Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison for the skills they displayed during a debate in the YMCA NSW Junior Parliament.
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Ms Aitchison, who chaired the debate, said John Leao from Woodberry showed he had the skills and confidence to be a significant force in Maitland’s future political landscape.
“John was elected among his peers to hold the position of premier in the junior parliament,” Ms Aitchison said. “It was a proud moment for me to see the talent we have in Maitland shine through in the debate on juvenile recidivism.
“Maitland was well-represented, with John Leao as premier, along with James Peters, minister for health and Grace Ahrens, minister for juvenile justice, who were also on the front bench of the junior parliament.”
Junior parliament is an apolitical program that introduces young people to the legal and parliamentary process of NSW.
It shows them how to be advocates for their community and gives them an opportunity to create solutions to problems facing NSW and to debate those ideas in NSW Parliament House in front of real MPs.
“It is great to see young people getting involved, and contributing to the important issues of society,” Ms Aitchison said.
John Leao, 14, from All Saints College, St Peter’s Campus in Maitland, said: “It was an honour that my nomination as premier was accepted.
“I feel the voices of young people in NSW are not being heard.
“I also believe the importance of mental health, juvenile justice and community services are not being addressed sufficiently – that governments are too busy spending their time on roads, transport, infrastructure and health.
“My ambition is to become a politician – and to represent the growing city of Newcastle.”
