SPEAKING on the floor of the Victorian State Parliament as part of Youth Parliament last week was an “awesome experience”, according to Hoppers Crossing student Lisa Nightingale.

Ms Nightingale, 21, who went to Westbourne Grammar in Werribee, was one of the six-member Altona City team to the Youth Parliament, which attracted 90 students from schools around Melbourne and country Victoria.

The Youth Parliament is an annual event run by YMCA Victoria in conjunction with the State Government’s Office for Youth.

Each team of students prepares a bill and argues it against another team in the Victorian parliamentary chambers in Spring St, Melbourne.

“There’s lots of formalities and protocol to be followed in Parliament House and that was perhaps the most daunting part of it,” Ms Nightingale said.

“We had a training weekend to prepare us and debating in that setting was amazing.

“The point is to let youth know it’s OK to have an opinion; it’s OK to say something; and yes, someone will listen to you.”

Youth Affairs Minister James Merlino sat in on the Youth Parliament.

Ms Nightingale’s team presented a public transport bill that proposed a demerit point system, rather than fines, when people are caught without a ticket.

“We wanted to find a way to allow emergency travel for people on public transport,” she said.

“We wanted every Victorian to have five demerit points they could use before receiving a fine.

“At the moment, if you’re on a train without a ticket, even if the ticket machine at the station was broken, inspectors will often give you a fine anyway.

“We wanted the system to be fairer.

“Unfortunately, the bill wasn’t passed, but it was a close division of 22 for and 26 against.

“However, it was a heated debate and a good outcome in that sense.”

Ms Nightingale, a classical singer, is now studying for a bachelor of musical performance degree at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.

“I don’t think I want to become a politician, but I’m definitely interested in public speaking,” she said. “I’d like to do a course in public relations and marketing and become a spokesperson for some organisation.”