![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/goldenplains\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2021\/10\/Alex-debating-in-Virtual-Parliament2-300x178.jpg\")
\u201cI found youth parliament to be a great experience, enhancing my skills in public speaking, as well as developing a legible bill. I also found it to be a great learning experience to see how Parliament runs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important to give youth a say in new laws and bills, as it\u2019s them who are going to be most affected in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bill Alex developed was designed to improve regional Victorian public transport. He explored this area because he is aware of the population growth in places such as Ballarat, and how this has an impact on the way the community travels.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is important. Lots of people from Melbourne are moving to regional areas due to the past COVID restrictions, which increases the strain on the bus system.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur bill had some different ideas on how public transport could be improved, including having bus routes that cover rural areas, increasing bus capacity during peak times, and improved GPS tracking on buses,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Transitioning into year 12, Alex said he\u2019s currently focused on his studies, but he\u2019s got a long-term goal to be a lifelong changemaker.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FEDERATION College students have experienced what it\u2019s like to be a State politician on Spring Street, participating in The YMCA Victorian Youth Parliament. Six local young people including year 11 VCAL student Alex Simmonds had an opportunity to virtually share their views surrounding issues they\u2019re passionate about, and received mentoring, public speaking and leadership training […]<\/p>\n