Akile Muman
Australian politics is often maligned as negative and cynical but if Blacktown resident Akile Muman has her way future parliaments will be much more effective.
Akile, 16, has been chosen as the Member for Blacktown in the YMCA NSW Youth Parliament.
‘‘I just thought I could make a difference by discussing the issues that affect youth,’’ the Baulkham Hills High School student said of her role.
Members of the Youth Parliament were chosen after an application process that involved a written submission outlining what issues affect youth.
The problems Akile identified should weigh heavy on the entire community.
‘‘The issues I wrote about were youth homelessness, depression and drink driving,’’ she said.
‘‘They’re things I see every day and just to be able to make a small difference would be amazing.’’
The parliament, Akile said, would involve two camps where teams, or parties, would create and debate bills before voting to adopt them or not.
Akile has been selected in the Family and Community Services Committee but will also have the opportunity to promote bills as the representative of Blacktown.
The first-generation Australian who was born to Turkish migrants said her electorate could teach the Australian Parliament much about multiculturalism.
‘‘I believe it’s one of the areas that has really embraced multiculturalism,’’ she said.
‘‘I love going out and seeing all different people of different nationalities speaking different languages.
‘‘I love that you can see that in Blacktown. I don’t think we have a problem with multiculturalism in Blacktown.’’