Published Saturday, 19 May, 2007 at 09:00 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
NEW YOUTH ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL TO ADVISE MINISTERS
Thirty Queenslanders aged between 16 – 25 years have been appointed to a new Queensland Youth Environment Council (QYEC), to provide fresh insights to Government on key environment and sustainability issues.
The establishment of the Council follows the International Earth Dialogues Forum held in Brisbane in July 2006 that was co-chaired by Premier Peter Beattie and former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev.
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr and Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said the young people had gathered for their first meeting this weekend (18-20 May) on the Gold Coast hinterland.
“Young people are our leaders of the future and the Council provides an opportunity for the government to gain a youth perspective on important concerns for the future,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“Council members will also be encouraged to become youth leaders, inspiring other young people to take action to promote development that is ecologically sustainable.
“It is vital that the Queensland Government gains a youth perspective on key environmental issues affecting Queensland, such as climate change, water use, renewable energy and wildlife conservation.”
Minister Welford said members of the Council had been drawn from a large number of high quality applicants submitted by young people from across the state.
“A total of 81 applications were received in response to invitations to key environmental and Indigenous organisations, high schools and universities from across Queensland,” Mr Welford said.
“An excellent mix of people have been appointed to the council reflecting the geographic, cultural, Indigenous, age and gender diversity within Queensland’s youth population.
“Members of the QYEC will serve three year terms. They will meet twice a year, with the inaugural meeting to be held this weekend.
“The QYEC will also give these young people a chance to build their knowledge of environmental issues and practice and develop other skills such as public speaking,” Mr Welford said.
A selection panel from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Education, Training and the Arts assessed the applicants based on knowledge of environmental and sustainability issues, participation in educational, local or non-government organisations and commitment to their roles as “youth leaders” on environmental issues.
The members of the QYEC include:
• Stuart Ackerman, Ecological Sustainability Consultant, Brisbane
• Miranda Allayialis, Environmental Defenders Office of North Qld, Cairns
• Katrina Bukauskas, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane
• Simone Carr Cornish, CSIRO/University of Queensland, Brisbane
• Grace Field, Brisbane State High School, Brisbane
• Michael Gardner, St Peters Lutheran College, Brisbane
• Michaela Griffin, Wild Mountains Trust, Brisbane
• Andrew Hay, Shalom Catholic College, Bundaberg
• Ting-Ya Hung, All Hallows School, Brisbane
• Crystal Jasperson, Capricorn Conservation Council, Rockhampton
• Anna Keenan, University of Queensland, Brisbane
• Brenda Lai, Redeemer Lutheran College, Brisbane
• Claire Law, James Cook University, Cairns
• Sarah Leahy, Albany Creek State High School, Brisbane
• Mia Lumley, Trinity Anglican School, Cairns
• Tony McCarthy, Tullawong State High School, Delaney’s Creek
• William McKeown, Torres Shire Council, Thursday Island
• Frederick Michna, Good Counsel College, Innisfail
• Meritt Nassif, Mansfield State High School, Brisbane
• Cameron O’Neil, Desert Channels Queensland, Longreach
• Emma Pellatt, Stanthorpe State High School, Stanthorpe
• Candice Priebbenow, Clifton State High School, Greenmount
• Leon Ross, St Patrick’s College, Gympie
• Yass-Marie Rutty, Forest Lake College, Brisbane
• Jennifer Sanger, Griffith University, Brisbane
• Paul Songhurst, Youth Environment Society, Brisbane
• Simon Thomas, Toowoomba Grammar School, Pittsworth
• Clare Towler, University of Queensland, Brisbane
• Lee Wilson, Environmental Law Solicitor, Brisbane
• Stephanie Young, Earth Education, Bonogin
Media contact: 3336 8002 (Minister Nelson-Carr’s office) or 3237 1000 (Minister Welford’s office)
The establishment of the Council follows the International Earth Dialogues Forum held in Brisbane in July 2006 that was co-chaired by Premier Peter Beattie and former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev.
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr and Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said the young people had gathered for their first meeting this weekend (18-20 May) on the Gold Coast hinterland.
“Young people are our leaders of the future and the Council provides an opportunity for the government to gain a youth perspective on important concerns for the future,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“Council members will also be encouraged to become youth leaders, inspiring other young people to take action to promote development that is ecologically sustainable.
“It is vital that the Queensland Government gains a youth perspective on key environmental issues affecting Queensland, such as climate change, water use, renewable energy and wildlife conservation.”
Minister Welford said members of the Council had been drawn from a large number of high quality applicants submitted by young people from across the state.
“A total of 81 applications were received in response to invitations to key environmental and Indigenous organisations, high schools and universities from across Queensland,” Mr Welford said.
“An excellent mix of people have been appointed to the council reflecting the geographic, cultural, Indigenous, age and gender diversity within Queensland’s youth population.
“Members of the QYEC will serve three year terms. They will meet twice a year, with the inaugural meeting to be held this weekend.
“The QYEC will also give these young people a chance to build their knowledge of environmental issues and practice and develop other skills such as public speaking,” Mr Welford said.
A selection panel from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Education, Training and the Arts assessed the applicants based on knowledge of environmental and sustainability issues, participation in educational, local or non-government organisations and commitment to their roles as “youth leaders” on environmental issues.
The members of the QYEC include:
• Stuart Ackerman, Ecological Sustainability Consultant, Brisbane
• Miranda Allayialis, Environmental Defenders Office of North Qld, Cairns
• Katrina Bukauskas, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane
• Simone Carr Cornish, CSIRO/University of Queensland, Brisbane
• Grace Field, Brisbane State High School, Brisbane
• Michael Gardner, St Peters Lutheran College, Brisbane
• Michaela Griffin, Wild Mountains Trust, Brisbane
• Andrew Hay, Shalom Catholic College, Bundaberg
• Ting-Ya Hung, All Hallows School, Brisbane
• Crystal Jasperson, Capricorn Conservation Council, Rockhampton
• Anna Keenan, University of Queensland, Brisbane
• Brenda Lai, Redeemer Lutheran College, Brisbane
• Claire Law, James Cook University, Cairns
• Sarah Leahy, Albany Creek State High School, Brisbane
• Mia Lumley, Trinity Anglican School, Cairns
• Tony McCarthy, Tullawong State High School, Delaney’s Creek
• William McKeown, Torres Shire Council, Thursday Island
• Frederick Michna, Good Counsel College, Innisfail
• Meritt Nassif, Mansfield State High School, Brisbane
• Cameron O’Neil, Desert Channels Queensland, Longreach
• Emma Pellatt, Stanthorpe State High School, Stanthorpe
• Candice Priebbenow, Clifton State High School, Greenmount
• Leon Ross, St Patrick’s College, Gympie
• Yass-Marie Rutty, Forest Lake College, Brisbane
• Jennifer Sanger, Griffith University, Brisbane
• Paul Songhurst, Youth Environment Society, Brisbane
• Simon Thomas, Toowoomba Grammar School, Pittsworth
• Clare Towler, University of Queensland, Brisbane
• Lee Wilson, Environmental Law Solicitor, Brisbane
• Stephanie Young, Earth Education, Bonogin
Media contact: 3336 8002 (Minister Nelson-Carr’s office) or 3237 1000 (Minister Welford’s office)