Youth tent embassy set up in Sydney
By Andy Gianniotis
SYDNEY — A youth tent embassy was set up at the Domain behind Parliament House here between April 20 and 26 to increase awareness among young people about the Street Safety Bill and the Parental Responsibility Act.
Events included open discussion meetings, bands, doofs, DJs, street performances, a candle vigil for kids in detention and a spontaneous occupation of the Treasury Department in Governor Macquarie's Tower.
Thirty people camped out for the whole week. Kilty O'Gorman, an activist with Justice Action, said, "The newspapers constantly say we need to protect youth and give them opportunities, but at the same time the government is legislating against us".
"The discussions were important", said Dylan Jones, a student at East Sydney Arts College, "because young people are being discriminated against for being what they are — young".
Some of the meetings were attended by state MPs Anne Simons of the ALP and independent Clover Moore. The issues included the proposed Common Youth Allowance, the use of public space and the NSW juvenile justice legislation currently being discussed.
On April 24, an attempt to give about 500 letters and 1000 signatures to Premier Bob Carr ended in an occupation of the Treasury Department.
"I learned you can voice your opinion — we had the right to be there, and it was a powerful expression of our determination to stand up for our rights", proclaimed Jones afterwards.
Justice For Young People, the organising body of Justice Action, is meeting next week to discuss ongoing events. Kilty O'Gorman can be contacted on (02) 9281 5100.