Lake Eacham local Connor Le’Gear and member of Tablelands Regional Council’s (TRC’s) Youth Advisory Committee is putting the Tablelands on the political map.

Mayor Rod Marti met with Connor earlier this year when Connor was representing the Hill Electorate in the Queensland Youth Parliament.

‘I was very impressed with Connor and am glad that our Youth Advisory Committee has both benefitted from and contributed to this young man’s passion and development.

‘The voice of youth in our region is an important one that must be listened to,’ said Mayor Marti.

Connor, currently studying a Diploma of Youth Justice, travelled to Brisbane for the Youth Parliament session.

‘When we arrived, we were separated into committees to each develop a bill on issues impacting youth,’ Connor said.

‘We then came together in Parliament House to vote on the bills, which were then sent to the committee’s in Queensland’s Parliament House where the State MPs chose to present the bills in State Parliament, or use bits of them for their own bills.

‘A good example of the success of this process is the mandatory 100 hours for learner drivers … this came straight from Youth Parliament.

‘I was in the education committee and our bill got passed, which is great!

‘Since the Youth Parliament I’ve met with ministers, mayors and councillors to discuss issues impacting youth.

‘I showcased the TRC Youth Strategic Plan to the Mayor of Cassowary Coast and he’s invited me to be a guest speaker at their youth forum next year,’ said Connor.