The Prime Minister today presented young Australians with conflicting information about opportunities for National Youth Roundtable members to meet with the Federal Opposition.
During ABC Youth Radio JJJ’s Talkback Classroom, aired this morning, the Prime Minister stated:
When the National Youth Roundtable comes to Canberra there are plenty of opportunities to talk to opposition people, plenty of opportunity and look if you are an Opposition leader, you can set-up a formal consultation in a committee room in Parliament House and invite members of the youth roundtable along, end of story, it is as simple as that.
This is simply not the case.
I have consistently called on the Minister for Youth Affairs, Dr Kemp, to allow the Labor Shadow Ministry to hold private meetings with Youth Roundtable members, in a similar format to their meetings with Coalition Ministers.
I believe youth representative should have opportunities to privately discuss issues of concern and present their recommendations to all political parties, not just Howard Government Ministers.
I have raised this issue in the chamber and in Senate Estimates Committees. I wrote to Minister Kemp requesting opportunities for private meetings last year and again in February. On both occasions my correspondence has been ignored, along with my proposition to give young people access to broad political views and private meeting with non-government members.
Informal conversations during lunch breaks are no replacement.
Dr Kemp has to date refused to allow members of the Opposition opportunities for private meetings.
Based on Mr Howard’s comments this morning, I look forward to Dr Kemp answering my correspondence and inviting the Labor Opposition to meet privately with all members of the National Youth Roundtable when it reconvenes next month.
I trust the Prime Minister has not deliberately mislead young people, but has fallen in the gap somewhere between Minister Kemp’s rhetoric about Roundtable and what has actually been happening with the program.
80/01. Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 02 62773334 or 0418 488295 Youth Affairs contact: Verity Newnham 0419 474 588
