Community
13 October, 2023
Our future
TWENTY-THREE teens from across Cairns have started campaigning for 12 positions on the region’s youth council with the long-term goal of becoming future community leaders.
At the top of their agendas are protection of the environment, better public transport, activities for young people to slow down youth crime, as well as inclusivity.
As part of the Cairns Regional Council and Foundation for Young Australians’ (FYA) Young Mayors Program, a youth council of 12 members, aged 13-17, will be democratically elected from October 30 to November 3, when 11–17-year-olds will be able to cast a vote in their schools.
Last Monday, 17 out of the 23 candidates introduced themselves and their ideas to the public at the council’s ‘Meet the candidates’ event where they answered questions from other youth on how they would address the city’s different problems in their 18-month term from 2024-25.
Aspiring to make one of the 12 seats, Trinity Anglican School year 8 student, Noah Solomon, 13, is hoping his prior leadership experience and passion for sustainability will earn him the support of his peers. "I have an environmental focus. If we could get public transport to be subsidised, we could get more people to use it and help pollution,” he said.
“I’d like to regulate or ban certain sunscreens that are bad for the Reef and ban single-use plastic bags in shopping centres.”
“I’m dedicated to my cause, and I will fight for whatever people want me to advocate for.”
St Andrew’s College year 9 student Molly Ben Ezra, 14, said she was a candidate who would be actively socialising with her voters and focus on amplifying their voices. “Currently there’s not a lot to do for teenagers in Cairns. People are getting bored and that’s why we have so many teenagers doing bad things,” she said.
“If we implemented some activities that are focused on teenagers, we could cut those figures down a little bit.
"What I want to do the most is give everybody a voice.
"I can be very strong when I have to be, so I won’t let people’s opinions get pressed down.”
Fifteen-year-old Yazmin Rivett from Smithfield State High School decided to run for youth council to advocate for inclusivity. “I want to make parks more inclusive, and work on more inclusive transport.
"I’d like to work on social media change to switch in the view of young people who go to different schools, from different races and abilities,” she said.
“I’m always going to listen, so if you want to be heard, you should vote for me.”
The youth council elections will take place in schools and community centres from October 30 to November 3.
