Speaker Milton Dick’s mission to enhance understanding of Australian democracy

House Speaker Milton Dick has visited more than 125 schools across Australia in a bid to spread ‘democracy literacy’.

Milton Dick, Speaker of the House of Representatives, with Nationals MP Sam Birrell, who holds the seat of Nicholls in northern Victoria, at Shepparton secondary college.

Milton Dick has visited more than 125 schools across Australia – including in some of the most remote corners of the nation – as part of a civics education program he devised as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Mr Dick told The Weekend Australian that it was his “mission to improve democracy literacy particularly for young Australians” and that he had written and implemented the Parliament in Schools program.

“It means new resources and new opportunities for kids to learn about our democracy,” he said.

“I’ve visited schools in remote communities in Western Australia and far North Queensland and remote schools off the coast of Australia ... I visited a school in NSW with only two students. This has been the best thing I have ever done promoting democracy and hopefully inspiring the next generation of leaders.”

Milton Dick with Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley and two students who attend the Pomona Public School in the NSW regional electorate of Farrer, held by Ms Ley.

In a submission to an inquiry into civics education being conducted by the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, Mr Dick said there was a need to improve civics education in the nation’s schools.

“Though Civics and Citizenship is a stand-alone subject from years 7 to 10 ... measures of civics education demonstrate that current approaches are not working,” he said. “An upcoming Education Ministers Meeting should have a specific focus on improving Civics and Citizenship education.

“As an alternative to travelling to Canberra, a program of regional roadshows could ... facilitate a parliamentary experience for regional and remote students.”

Speaking to The Weekend Australian, Mr Dick said he had made new materials available through the Parliamentary Education Office allowing MPs to promote a stronger understanding in schools of Australia’s system of parliamentary democracy.

When visiting schools, he explains “where laws are made and why parliament is important”.

“We touch on the Senate and the important role the Senate plays in overseeing legislation and how legislation has to be passed through two houses. They learn about the governor-general giving the royal assent to bills.”

Mr Dick has also commissioned the workshop at Parliament House to make replicas of the Mace of the House of Representatives and the Despatch Box to facilitate “school parliaments”.

“Kids in different models can debate a bill that homework should be banned,” he said. “And the government of the day always thinks that they’re on a winner and the poor old opposition have to argue a hard case.

“And then the crossbench amend the bill so you only have to do it two days a week.”

Mr Dick said that, during his visits to schools, students would end the Parliament in Schools program by participating in a “big vote” on “whether pineapple should be allowed on pizza or not”.

“Whilst there is a serious element, I try and make it lighthearted and also have a bit of fun along the way,” he said. “I am happy to report to your readers that pineapple on pizza is narrowly being allowed and no ban has been put in place just yet.”