Member for Riverina Michael McCormack is asking Year 10, 11, and 12 students to put themselves in the position of a newly elected Member of Parliament as part of a nationwide competition.
Organised by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Milton Dick MP, the My First Speech competition challenges eligible students to produce a 90-second speech on a topic of their choosing.
Mr McCormack said the competition would give Riverina students the chance to have the national spotlight shone on the issues important to them.
“The youth of today will be the leaders of tomorrow and the My First Speech competition gives students a wonderful opportunity to engage in the national discourse,” Mr McCormack said.
“The competition involves students evoking a Member of Parliament’s first speech by outlining their goals and vision for their time in office and highlighting their main concerns for their community and electorate.”
Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick said promoting Parliamentary education to students was one of his key priorities.
“This competition will provide high school students with the chance to learn more about the way our nation’s democracy works, and how actively engaging with the Parliamentary process can draw attention to the issues that are most important to them,” Mr Dick said.
The winning entrant from each year group, accompanied by a parent or guardian, will be flown to Canberra to deliver their speeches live at Parliament House and participate in a program tailored to deepen their understanding of the legislative process.
The submission deadline for the competition is set for 11.59pm AEST on Monday 15 September 2025. To learn more about the competition and submit their entries, students can visit the dedicated competition website: https://mfs.houseofrepresentatives.gov.au/
For further information and inquiries regarding the My First Speech competition, please contact Mr McCormack’s office via email: [email protected]