By LAWRENCE SPRINGBORG
“DEMOCRACY is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time”.
This was just one of many famous and historic quotes by Winston Churchill, on this occasion delivered to the House of Commons in 1947.
It captured then, as it does now the frustration and sometimes disregard that we all, now and again feel towards our system of government. But emphatically embedded in Churchill’s dictum is the encouragement, that as we may take our democracy for granted and it may be imperfect, there are many around the world who yearn for the freedoms, liberties and opportunities it offers.
lt was with this backdrop in mind, I had the privilege last week to sit down with Young Southern Downs resident, Miss Emma Ford and talk to her about what she hoped to achieve when she spends a week with 88 other young people representing all 89 State Electoral areas throughout Queensland later this year.
Emma has been chosen as the youth member for Southern Downs, to represent our area at the YMCAs annual youth parliament.
I have been privileged to represent this great part of Queensland, since I had the honour as a 21-year-old, to become the youngest person ever elected to our Parliament in 1989, an honour I still hold today.
It is through this prism that I encourage active participation in civic affairs, throughout my region by young people, regardless of their political views or personal aspirations.
Emma told me enthusiastically, that she and a number of other youth parliamentarians, are drafting and amending a Bill to increase the rate of organ donation. A very noble goal.
It is great to see the young leaders of today and community leaders of tomorrow, like Emma, showing such interest in how their laws are made and what sort of laws they are.
As I remind students, when I have the privilege to talk to them about my role and the role of parliament, government by necessity touches every aspect of our lives and generally for the better. Access to education, health services, public safety and speed limits, are but a few examples. And as a demonstration of the evolution of changing times and expectations, the price of milk and bread, was strictly regulated when I was first elected. For contemporary young leaders like Emma, such regulations would most likely be viewed today, as historical relics.
When Emma and her young leadership group come together, they will also experience the fact, that our parliamentary democracy, by its very nature is adversarial. This is the natural and very healthy consequence of the freedom to express and hold different opinions.
Given this adversarial presentation of different ideas and views, most people are astounded to learn that roughly eight out of 10 decisions of the parliament, have the support of all sides of politics. We don’t hear about this general consensus, because you don’t argue about the things you agree on. And of course, there is not much of a controversial news story in that.
The opportunity which Emma has this year, should encourage the many hundreds of bright and enthusiastic budding young leaders, across the Southern Downs, to participate in youth parliaments next year and beyond.
