Community & Business
5 April, 2023
A slice of political life for CSHS student
Year 11 Clifton State High School student Brianna Naumann recently travelled to Canberra to participate in the National Schools Constitutional Convention.
Brianna was selected to be one of only 22 students from Queensland, and 119 students nation-wide, to attend.
The Convention was held at the Museum of Australian Democracy.
Legal Studies teacher Celeste White said the selected students’ mission was to argue the enduring validity of section 128 of the Australian Constitution and consider the imminent Voice to Parliament Referendum.
“After two days of guest speakers, including Australian Governor-General Honourable David Hurley; an excursion of the High Court; observation of the Australian Parliament’s Question Time; and lively debate amongst the Nation’s young delegates, the students prepared and presented their Convention communiqué to the House of Representatives,” she said.
Brianna said participating in the Convention was an honour.
“I had the opportunity to attend the Parliament’s Question Time, where we saw both Labor and the Coalition ask and receive questions from one another,” Brianna said.
“I also had the chance to meet with my local member of parliament, David Littleproud, where I discussed similar topics and took photos with him.
“The next day was held and hosted by The Museum of Old Parliament House.
“Representatives from every state were mixed and put into working groups to discuss the topic and listen and converse with keynote speakers.
“This was a great opportunity to further form relationships and offer my informed opinion to people from different local areas of Australia.”
Brianna said the representatives then travelled to the Governor General’s house where he talked about the importance of the voice of the youth.
“We then had the opportunity to explore the High Court and have dinner, where more guest speakers talked to us about the opportunities that can come from students who participate in the Constitutional Conventions,” she said.
“It was a great experience and something that will be remembered for the rest of my life.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity and chance to represent a small, regional school in something as big
as this convention.”
