Media Release

The House of Representatives has announced a national My First Speech competition for year 10 to 12 students across Australia.

This competition will provide the opportunity for two lucky students to come to Canberra in its centenary year and deliver a speech at Parliament House during our 25th anniversary Open Day being held on 24 August 2013.

The competition asks year 10 to 12 students to consider what they would say if they were a newly elected Member of the House of Representatives and record themselves presenting the speech on video.

Alongside the trip to Canberra, the winning students and their schools will also receive a cash prize.

A website has been established for the competition at: www.aph.gov.au/myfirstspeech

When the competition was first held in 2011 it attracted 176 entries from 68 schools across Australia, and the winners were applauded by MPs during Question Time in the House.

Entries for the competition close at 5pm EST 26 July 2013.

For more information on the competition contact the Australian Parliament’s International and Community Relations Office on freecall 1800 139 299 or email myfirstspeech@aph.gov.au

This competition is a wonderful way for our next generation of community leaders to have a say in our national parliament.