Meet Youth Ambassadors Emma Tomlinson and Faith Roche.
They are the final two students out of 12 Noosa’s independent MP Sandy Bolton has had the pleasure to work with during her first term of Parliament and are joining her for the 2020 campaign.
“They are yearning not only to learn, but to have a platform for the voice of our youth. They seek change from what they see as an outdated mode of politics, and the negative connotations attached to politicians,” Ms Bolton said.
“This they see as discouraging many of their age to engage in the political process, or consider becoming advocates or representatives.”
Emma is an emerging singer/songwriter currently studying a creative industries degree.
“I am currently Secretary of Student Guild USC, Youth Committee member and arts mentor of the Noosa Chamber of Commerce, Official recognized Ambassador for Autism Queensland as well as ambassador for Sandy,” she said.
She has appeared on television in Ten’s Creative Generation and The X-Factor, and plans to incorporate her music into a tool of health therapy.
Faith is a Year 12 College Captain at St Andrew’s Anglican College who has worked extensively in volunteering across Noosa.
In addition to attending a sponsored Global Youth Leadership Summit in San Diego, Zonta International bestowed on her its Young Women in Public Affairs Award.
“I have an intrinsic concern that not all aspects of life are represented in government policies or action; this extends from minority groups in society to natural environments and our changing climate,” she said.
The pair will experience first-hand the processes of campaigns and elections and follow on from previous students, for examples in the areas of resources for parliamentary opposition members, and our education system including the pressures faced by both students and teachers.
“Regardless of recommendations from the Fitzgerald Inquiry into corruption some 30 years ago, neither major party had been prepared to rectify equitable resourcing for crossbench members,” Ms Bolton said.
“A successful Private Members Motion resulted in this now being with the Independent Remuneration Tribunal, which will lead to this being finally addressed.”
And the realities of where changes are needed in education including NAPLAN testing, is finally being acknowledged.
“With a reported 50% of our teachers leaving the industry within five years of graduating, this is a good start,” Ms Bolton said.
“Our youngest ‘Noosans’ are our future, and I am thrilled this election to have Emma and Faith alongside me.
“When armed with the knowledge and tools to effect change, they are dynamic. Those that are not enmeshed in parties, ideology and combative methods, look clearly and simply without ‘filters’ on how to address issues,” Ms Bolton said.
“With energy spent in collaboration and facts, not misinformation, headlines and adversarial intent, nor needing to engage in protests.
“Just imagine what our Parliament would look like if every MP voted independently in alliance with their community, not to a party? It would make a very interesting Chamber!
“And as our youngest leaders demonstrated in this week’s Youth Parliament, debate can be invigorating, respectful and refreshing, and I enjoyed ’playing’ Deputy Speaker for a session very much!“
