After much uncertainty and postponement, Year 12 Global Politics student Shraddha Verma finally had the opportunity to meet with 85 national student delegates selected to take place in the 27th National Schools Constitution Convention. The Windsor Hotel Melbourne provided the perfect venue for students to meet and collaborate over the question ‘Does Australia need a Bill of rights?’ The two-day convention was led by several keynote speakers such as His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley, and Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay. Student working groups located all over Australia joined the streamed discussion, and on Day two, students were guided by the Australian Electoral Commission to participate in the voting on a plebiscite.

Shraddha reflects on this wonderful opportunity.

The question, ‘Does Australia need a Bill of rights?', which was the focus of this year’s convention, initially seemed a simple one. However, as we Delegates listened to the keynote speakers, it was clear the question was loaded with implications. All delegates and speakers were unanimous on the view in favour of the need for increased protection of human rights, particularly for marginalised communities. The second issue proposed was HOW a bill of Rights (if at all) should be established and implemented. The two main methods of establishing a Bill of Rights in Australia is (1) through a Constitutional Bill of Rights or (2) through a Statutory Bill of Rights. The issue with the former method is the incredibly difficult and costly process required to change the Constitution. It was suggested that a Constitutional Bill of Rights may be unable to reflect the ever-evolving rights of the citizens (consider the case of Roe v Wade possibly being overturned in the U.S.A). The issue with the latter method was that a Statutory Bill of Rights would not have the power to obligate Parliament to abide by the bill of rights but would enable citizens the power to not re-elect a government that did not abide.

A highlight of the experience was the line-up of speakers, the collaboration with students all over the country and the opportunity to visit the ‘Constitutional Room’ at the hotel, where Australia’s Constitution was drafted.

Selina Brincat - Teacher