Central Coast Grammar School Year 12 student Janine Southwell will be among 95 Year 11 and 12 students from around Australia attending the 29th National Schools Constitutional Convention in Canberra.
To be held in the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, the convention will run from March 19 to March 21.
It will be funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Education, co-ordinated by National Curriculum Services, and supported by the Australian Curriculum Studies Association and Department of Education from all states and territories.
The topic for the 2024 convention is: “Section 96 of the Constitution allows the Commonwealth to grant funds to areas that fall outside those prescribed in Section 51. Should Section 96 be amended to decentralise the power of the Commonwealth?”
This topic will provide students with the opportunity to examine Sections 51 and 96 of the Australian Constitution and discuss if the power of the Commonwealth should be decentralised.
A range of stimulus speakers will discuss the issues with students for them to debate with all delegates.
Emeritus Professor Clement Macintyre from the University of South Australia will facilitate the convention.
Outcomes from the convention will be incorporated into a communiqué that will be presented to Deputy President of the Senate and Chair of Committees, Senator Andrew McLachlan, for tabling in Parliament and recorded in Hansard.
Other elements of the program will include the Prime Minister’s Reception at Parliament House, a meeting with the Governor-General David Hurley at Government House, and an official dinner at the National Press Club.