Thursday, 29 August 2024

 Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Government Services, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Public and Active Transport) (09:51): I rise to commend the exceptional efforts of year 8 students at St John’s Regional College in Dandenong, who recently participated in a civics and citizenship political party debate. I was delighted to join principal Tim Hogan as a guest judge as students debated a very topical issue for many of us in this place and outside of it, which is the issue of vaping.

I can confidently say that the students’ dedication, their insight and their passion were truly impressive, and it was very clear on the day that they had worked tirelessly to research, to prepare and to present their arguments, showcasing not only their understanding of the complexity surrounding the issue but also their commitment to making a positive impact in their community. In the end it was the team Dcop who emerged victorious, and I want to extend my warmest congratulations to those team members for their outstanding performance, but the standard across all teams was very high, and I want to commend all participants for their hard work and their creativity along the way as well.

I think this exercise, though, highlights the importance of engaging our young people in discussions about the challenges that we face as a community. It is through initiatives like this that we empower the next generation to think critically and build that next generation of leaders, many of whom may one day sit in this very place. Congratulations to the students at St John’s.