The 2024 YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament saw the Noosa Electorate represented by well-known and respected local Dylan Hafey, who works for Noosa MP Sandy Bolton.
Throughout the past year, Dylan and other Youth Members (YMs), representing every electorate in the state, consulted and drafted legislation to be debated and voted on by YMs in the Queensland Parliament chamber.
The sitting week where the voting occurred enacted the real parliament with a Government, Opposition, Question time and Youth Bills debated in accordance with Parliamentary Standing orders.
The week also included a reception at Government House, hosted by Governor of Queensland, Jeanette Young.
“My Committee (Justice, Police, Community Safety and Corrective Services) took forward a Youth Bill to regulate deepfakes, which is a video of a person in which their face or body has been digitally altered so that they appear to be someone else, typically used maliciously or to spread false information,” Dylan said.
“This during election periods, and when they are being used to damage the character of another person. As we have seen, the damage from this form of harassment that is traumatic is especially relevant to young Queenslanders who are impacted in school environments and domestic and family violence situations. It was great to work with my fellow Committee members on this and create a framework for potential future change.”
With a large majority voting in favour, the Criminal Code and Other Legislation (Hyper Realistic Imagery) Amendment Youth Bill 2024 was passed by the Youth Parliament and has been sent to the Queensland Government for their consideration.
Consultations Dylan and his Committee undertook included the Electoral Commission Queensland, Sandy Bolton MP, David Janetzki MP and the University of Queensland.
Sandy Bolton MP, as the only independent in Queensland now for a third term, has reiterated as to why every Queenslander should be deeply concerned regarding the ability of our advances in IT to put up fakes clips and pictures that are not of that person.
“That Queenslanders, their children and grandchildren can be subjected to a world where their sharing of moments online can be taken and used in such a manner is disgraceful, and perpetrators of such harassment must be held to account for their actions,” Ms Bolton said.
Dylan furthered as to his experience as a Youth Parliamentarian, and why it is so important for other young Queenslanders to nominate to have their voice heard.
“Being able to speak in Parliament on this Youth Bill, as well as other issues affecting our State, took forward the voice of our generation and what is important to us,” Dylan said.
“This included my Private Members Statement speech on integrity in politics, and the need to work towards restoring the trust of Australians in our leaders and in our system of governance itself.
“I would encourage more under 25 year olds to put their hand up for programs like Queensland Youth Parliament or the National Leadership Forum, which I also attended earlier this year. It gave me the chance to hear from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton on value driven leadership. You have to grab hold of these opportunities with the first step being knowing about them.”
The YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament is a yearlong initiative with applications open to 15 to 25 year olds early next year.
Learn more at ymcaqueensland.org.au/services/queensland-youth-parliament.
“It is an honour and privilege to be able to sit, let alone speak, in the Queensland Parliament chamber. Thank you to Program Coordinator Martin Boga, Youth Governor Jordan Engel and all of the Executive for making this a reality. In addition, those who provided a letter of support for my application.”
“I am intensely proud of the work we did this year and look forward to meeting and assisting the next Youth Member for Noosa in 2025,” Dylan said.
