He’s only 19 but the current Member for Gregory could have his hands full if the electorate’s representative in Queensland’s Youth Parliament ever decides to go into politics.
Macabe Daley hails from La Mancha west of Longreach but at the end of September he was in the halls of power in Brisbane debating issues such the protection of the live export industry as the Minister for Agriculture.
He and 92 other young Queenslanders were participating in the 20th anniversary of the Youth Parliament, described as the pinnacle of youth engagement programs and one which has positively impacted the lives of many young people.
For the first time in the program’s 20 year history, both the Youth Premier and the Youth Opposition Leader are young women.
Macabe is currently studying law and biomedicine at QUT and says although he probably won’t stand for parliament and become a politician in real life, the experience had been really valuable.
“It’s not what I joined for, to become a politician. It was just good to see what the other 92 young people are passionate about, and to give a bit back,” he said.
“I think the growing difference between the city and the bush is a very important issue. So many people don’t have a clue about what’s going on out west until they go there.
“I talked about the impact of their buying choices and petitions they’re signing, without knowledge.”
These were some of the issues he and his colleagues tackled in the Youth Parliament when they proposed eight new Youth Bills during four days of debate.
The depth of the topics and the serious intent impressed their senior counterparts, including shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Deb Frecklington, who acted as deputy Speaker for the Youth ag committee.
She said she was impressed by what she heard while the Youth members debated a Bill to ensure protections are in place for the live export industry as well as supporting priority ports.
“The Bill they debated brought to light important topics such as changing the Veterinary Surgeons Act Bill to allow laypersons to be accredited for the pregnancy testing of cattle for export and sale,” Ms Frecklington said.
“It also examined the expansion and maintenance of the live export industry through ‘Vital Live Export Ports’, such as Port Alma near Rockhampton.
“Plus, the Bill offered a new blueprint for the expansion and upgrade of existing port and port-related infrastructure to support live trade. This was all in the context of developing sustainable business practices and ecotourism industries, while safeguarding Queensland’s marine ecosystems.
“These are topics which even current governments find too hard to examine and I applaud the Youth Members for taking on and highlighting these controversial issues.
“I think the future of agriculture is in very good hands if Youth Parliament is anything to go by.”
Macabe’s hard work paid off when a 20-page ‘Live Export and Tourism Coexistence Youth Bill 2015’ was passed and presented to the government for future consideration in real policy development.
“We said that before any ministerial change was made, they should set out a consultation phase with industry as a whole,” he said. “The idea of the bill was to facilitate a bit more talk.
“It was the only bill to go through unanimously, which was really pleasing.”
Macabe finished his secondary schooling at Nudgee College at the end of 2013 and travelled around Queensland doing everything from helping his parents at home at Longreach and fruit picking at Emerald to contract mustering at Cloncurry, pub work at Tolga, concreting in Townsville and mine survey work back at Cloncurry.
“It expanded my horizons,” he said.”That’s what I’m passionate about, making sure the other side is heard.”
Ms Frecklington encouraged other young people, particularly those from regional and remote areas to consider becoming involved in 2016.
More information on YMCA Youth Parliament can be found at http://www.ymcaqyp.org/
