Two Bunbury residents set to represent city in 2024 The Y WA Youth Parliament

Two Bunbury students are set to get a taste of politics as they prepare to head to State Parliament. Isabella Chalker, 15, and Samuel Greenwood, 17, have been selected to participate in this year’s The Y WA Youth Parliament which will see them sit in the Legislative Assembly as part of a week-long camp in Perth. Samuel expressed his excitement for the program, saying he “got lucky” to be selected. “I was lucky enough for the first training day to go up to Perth ... and there was so many people who were all very engaged and interested in problems in our youth,” he said. As a debating student at her school, the Youth Parliament was a perfect opportunity for Isabella. “I thought it was a great opportunity to go meet other people,” she said. “So far I’ve only met the people like in my committee, but they’re so friendly and so nice.” Each participant represents an electorate in the State, with Isabella and Samuel chosen respectively as the Youth Members for Bunbury and Collie-Preston. They also get grouped into committees, where they work with fellow youth parliamentarians to create draft laws on various topics. It is a four-month program which concludes with the camp in early July. Having visited Parliament House in Year 6 and been in the public gallery, Samuel is looking forward to sitting in the seats the State’s politicians do. “It will be very cool and probably daunting at first, but that’s going to be a whole experience in itself,” he said. Isabella is excited to meet fellow participants from across the State. “I’m really excited to hear what the different committees are going to bring, and I’m really excited to debate them,” she said.