Last term, I participated in the National Schools Constitutional Convention in Canberra at the MOed centre, and this was an amazing experience. Over these three days, I had the privilege to meet many keynote speakers who shared their knowledge on the Australian Constitution and explored the complexities of state and federal laws, funding mechanisms, and the implications of residual powers in health and education.
In our breakout rooms, we discussed concerns over accountability, the political motivations behind conditional grants, and the impact of these issues on social justice and equity and came up with suggestions for reform, which included revising taxation systems, establishing independent bodies for grant review, and reconsidering the allocation of powers between Commonwealth and State governments to ensure more equitable and efficient governance.
On our final day, we even had the privilege to meet the Governor-General David Hurley and his wife Linda Hurley at Governor-General House and later dine at the Australian National Press Club accompanied with the inspirational Caitlin Figueiredo, Co-Chair, Australian Youth Affairs Coalition and 2024 ACT Young Australian of the Year. On the final day, we were able to visit Parliament House and witness Question Time, which was my favourite part of the program. It was truly amazing and eye-opening to witness politicians debate over certain issues and demonstrate their work in this area.
As a student at QAHS, I am proud to have represented my school at this wonderful opportunity to further understand the Australian governing system.
Athena Hua
Year 11 Student