www.firstnationstelegraph.com
Passion, strength and insight at the National Indigenous Youth Parliament
Jason O’Neil on right attending Parliament. Image: NIYP
by Pieta Horgan 10 February 2014
I
n early 2012 Jason O’Neill, a proud Wiradjuri man, was selected to represent New South Wales in Australia’s first National Indigenous Youth Parliament. On the day after the 50 young Indigenous leaders arrived in Canberra they found themselves in Tony Abbott’s office. “Over the course of that week I also met Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Peter Garrett and Ken Wyatt just to name a few,” said Jason. “But, to be honest, that really didn’t matter, because the most amazing people I met that week were the other participants.”
Jason said it was indescribable to see such passion, strength and insight from the 50 young leaders. “Gathered from every walk of life, in the truest sense of the term, the amount of life experience accumulated between them all would have you prepared for anything,” Jason said. “I found myself surrounded by 50 incredibly strong and inspirational young people, who became stronger together.” Jason was elected leader of the opposition for the two-day simulated parliament, held in Old Parliament House. “It was an honour and a privilege to serve these amazing young leaders. To this day I don’t think I
truly did them justice. “In the hallowed halls of the old House of Representatives, each young leader took their turn, one by one to speak about the issues they knew well, and the solutions they knew would work. It was incredible. “The Australian Government heard just what we, as young Indigenous Australians, thought were the important issues and how they should be best attacked.” Jason will mentor participants in the 2014 National Indigenous Youth Parliament in Canberra in May. Applications close 10 March 2014. To apply or for information go to www.aec.gov.au/Indigenous.
Page 1