MORNINGTON Peninsula students will be heard next week at the YMCA Victorian Youth Parliament. The chambers of Parliament House will be surrendered to youth for the annual event, which gives them the chance to raise key issues.
Dromana Secondary College students have drafted legislation calling for greater concessions for tertiary students, including part-time, TAFE and international students.
Aaron George, Jenna Ingram, Briana Finnegan, Hayden McKenzie, James Buckley, James Abbott and Aleisha Cox, all 16, will argue that Victorian students find it difficult to support themselves financially as they are either not eligible for a concession or the concession they receive does not match the rising costs of living.
In a separate debate, Mornington Secondary College student Beth Carroll, 17, will join a team calling for the probationary driving age to be lowered from 18 to 17.
Organised by YMCA Victoria and the Office for Youth, the program includes three days of debate, at which MPs and the public are welcome.
Bills passed by the youth parliament and given the assent of the youth governor will be handed to Youth Affairs Minister James Merlino for consideration.
■Both teams will debate in the Parliamentary chamber on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday between 9am-4pm.