Shaping the nation
BY NICOLE JACKSON
19 Jan, 2009 08:51 AM
A MORWELL woman will be among the first citizens given the chance to help shape the perception of politics in Australia.
Estelle Landy was one of 150 Australians randomly selected to participate in the first-ever Australian Citizens' Parliament, to be held at the Old Parliament House, Canberra next month.
The participants will discuss and debate ways to strengthen and improve Australia's political system in working for the people.
The 20 year-old was selected from more than 8500 people invited to be part of the program, and is still not quite sure how her name came up.
"It was a huge surprise,'' she said.
"I went to the mail box one day and found a well-presented invite in my letterbox saying I was shortlisted to partake in the Citizens' Parliament.
"It said we were one of 0.2 per cent to get that far.
"Initially I had no idea what it was, I thought it was junk mail at first but then I rang the number and spoke to someone who explained what it was.''
The Citizens' Parliament is an initiative of the newDemocracy Foundation.
Estelle has always had an interest in politics and at the age of 18 she became part of the Socialist Alliance in Melbourne.
"My mum was a political freelance journalist for Time magazine, so I have drawn most of my political views from family roots,'' she said.
"I took political studies at high school and I still have an interest in it.''
Estelle has been communicating and preparing material for discussion with other participants who will attend the sitting, via an online forum.
The issue she hopes to raise is that Australian History Politics be a mandatory subject for students up until year 12.
"Voting is compulsory and I think the youth of today are not well enough informed and I don't think they have the full information to make informed decisions when voting,'' Estelle said.
"It's not that people don't want to learn, but the structure isn't there.
"We need to be educating so we have correct or well thought-out leaders selected.''
Estelle said she hoped her participation in the forum would make a difference.
"One advantage of being young is that I can represent the demographic of youth,'' she said.
"I feel I am still fresh enough to put forward some common views.''
Estelle also looks forward to seeing how parliament works.