Future Indigenous leaders take the floor of Queensland’s Parliament

A new generation of future indigenous leaders from across Cairns got a taste of what goes on inside Queensland’s Parliament House on Thursday.

Junior Indigenous Youth Parliament's leader of the Opposition Tyriahna Starkey, (12) Premier Shaun McGinness (10) and Sergeant-at-Arms Raiyah Saveks (11). Picture: PETER CARRUTHERS

A NEW generation of future Indigenous leaders from across Cairns got a taste of what goes on inside Queensland’s Parliament House on Thursday.

Students from 11 Cairns schools took part in the annual Junior Indigenous Parliament opened and chaired by Speaker of the Parliament and Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt.

Speaker of the House Curtis Pitt opens the Junior Indigenous Youth Parliament with 11-year-old student Sergeant-at-Arms Raiyah Saveks. Picture: PETER CARRUTHERS

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Mr Pitt hoped early exposure to democracy would lead to a better representation of Indigenous leaders.

“The issues that face many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are serious issues and ones that are challenging but having people that they can relate to and look up to and aspire to be like is a very important thing indeed,” he said. About 50 students, assigned roles as elected members of Queensland electorates joined other pupils playing the role of parliamentary officers.

Year 5 Kuranda State School student Shaun McGinness as Queensland Premier was excited to participate.

“I have been practising for a while now and am happy to do it today,” he said.

Students debated two bills before the Parliament assisted by Far North Queensland MPs Michael Healy, Shane Knuth and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Craig Crawford.

Originally published as Future Indigenous leaders take the floor of Queensland’s Parliament