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Young Sonia stands for parliament

Sonia Zhou has done what few people her age, and for that matter few within the general population, will ever get to do in their lifetime. She has sat in NSW parliamentary chambers writes Ben Falkenmire in the South Sydney Herald of August 2008.

“It was really special because if you are not an MP you don’t get to go in,” the Waterloo resident said. “We had the privilege to go in and stand up and talk where most MPs stand and talk.”

Sonia was one of 75 youths participating in the seventh annual NSW Youth Parliament Week.

Students aged 15-18 years were given exclusive access to the chambers for two days to debate and pass bills on broad topics such as regional development, juvenile justice and health.

Elected as one of two representatives from Minister Keneally’s Heffron electorate and her JJ Cahill Memorial high school, Sonia was a member of the education team. “We passed our bill. I was really excited about that. It was about minimum standards for public schools around the state.”

In her final year of high school, Sonia said the experience had not altered her dreams for the future. “It has been my dream to be a lawyer since I could read and write,” the 17-year-old said. “I wanted the experience of what it would be like in politics, and it was great because it was really political.”

YMCA youth parliament coordinator Jess Harris said of the 10 bills debated by the students, seven were passed and presented to Labor MP Phil Koperberg, and the Shadow Minister for Youth Mike Baird.

Minister for Juvenile Justice Barbara Perry was also on hand to the address the enthusiastic students and divest some wisdom.

Photo: Ali Blogg - Sonia Zhou

Source: South Sydney Herald August 2008 www.southsydneyherald.com.au