THE next generation of the NSW Nationals found their voice, and found they had plenty of support on some important issues at the party's State conference in Queanbeyan last week.
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The Young Nationals had one of the highest numbers of motions at the conference, covering a range of issues from mental health, to telecommunications, to welfare and education.
Young Nationals chairman Dominic Hopkinson said both the number of motions and the number of Young National members to attend the conference highlighted a "real regeneration" for the party.
"There's about 25 Young Nats at the conference... a big increase on previous years," he said.
"It's really quite inspiring for a young person... you come along and speak passionately about what is important to you, and your views will be taken seriously.
"The party is happy to hear what we have to say."
The motion from the Young Nationals which gained the most debate was their call for the federal government to honour the previous Labor agreement with the State government to fund six years of the Gonski education reforms in NSW.
The Young Nationals also took on the federal government in a motion calling for the rejection of federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne's plans to review the Australian curriculum in history, with one member accusing Mr Pyne of "attempting to re-ignite the history wars".
In both motions the Young Nationals succeeded, with a clear majority of the conference voting in favour.
Roderick Makim
Senior journalist for The Land.
Senior journalist for The Land.
