Australian Young Liberals

“Prime Minister Kevin Rudd must either refute or explain shameful reports today that he has ‘made it clear’ that he wants a man to run for the ALP in the seat of Bass at the upcoming federal election,” Federal Young Liberal President, Rachel Fry, said today.

“This flies in the face of comments from Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard in recent days regarding her desire to see an even split between men and women in Parliament (The Mercury, 07/01/10).

“I am proud to hold the position of Federal President of the Young Liberal Movement as a woman and proud to be a member of a political party that judges its candidates, members and office bearers on their merits, not on their gender.

“Once again Labor’s empty rhetoric is not matched by its actions and once again the Prime Minister has shown his true colours.”

The Australian Young Liberal Movement has today welcomed the election of Tony Abbott as the Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party.

Rachel Fry, Federal Young Liberal President, said that Young Liberal Movement members were looking forward to getting behind the new Liberal Leader and Deputy Julie Bishop.

“Tony Abbott is a man of strong character and strong convictions,” Miss Fry said.

“For many years Tony Abbott has been a great supporter of the Young Liberals and we welcome his election as leader.

“Young Liberals are now totally focused on the next election and campaigning against the Rudd Government’s poor economic management, reckless spending and record debt,” concluded Miss Fry.

“The Young Liberal Movement also welcomes the clear decision by the Party Room to vote to refer the Emissions Trading Scheme to a Senate committee for further investigation,” added Michael van Dissel, Federal Vice President.

“There is no need to vote in favour of an ETS before the Copenhagen conference and before we know what action our major trading partners will take. We encourage all Liberal Senators to vote in favour of referring the legislation to a Senate Committee for further review,” said Mr van Dissel.

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The Australian Young Liberal Movement has today strongly supported Liberal Senators and Members who have announced their decision to oppose the Rudd Government’s disastrous Emissions Trading Scheme.

Rachel Fry, Federal Young Liberal President, said that Young Liberal Movement members were universally opposed to the ETS.

“The Rudd Government’s Emissions Trading Scheme is poorly designed, will cost Australian jobs and reduce Australia’s international competitiveness for little environmental benefit,” Ms Fry said.

“Young Liberals do not support the passage of this bill and calls on all Liberal Senators and Members to oppose these bills.

“A number of Senators and Members have already announced their intention to cross the floor. These MPs enjoy the full support of the Young Liberal Movement.

“In particular, those frontbenchers who have resigned to cross the floor and vote against Labor’s ETS are to be congratulated for their strong and principled stand,” Ms Fry concluded.

“The Rudd Government is merely using a green rag to try to shroud what is in essence a massive tax grab by the Commonwealth which will result in every single Australian paying higher prices for essential items,” added Michael Van Dissel, Federal Vice President.

Lowering the voting to age to 16 is not the solution to increasing youth engagement in the political process.

“In the Young Liberals we are addressing the issue of young people's involvement in politics by actively engaging them where they are at: universities, schools and in the work place. But beyond what we can do in our organisation, we need to take a non-partisan approach to the issue of political disconnect that encourages a greater level of civic engagement and increases exposure to democratic practices and values,” Young Liberal President Rachel Fry said.

“Any policy proposal must be examined in the context of what it sets out to achieve, and in this instance, we do not believe that lowering the voting age will achieve the goal of greater participation in society.

“Young people under the age of 16 are not legally able to participate in a range of activities and require parental permission for many others. Eighteen is the age at which society deems a young person fit to make important decisions for themselves. Voting need not be any different.

“The Australian Young Liberals welcome any moves to encourage greater involvement in civic life by young people, however, we don’t believe that lowering the voting age is the appropriate means through which this can be achieved.”

“Like most of Labor’s policy thought-bubbles, this proposal is all about politics and not about good policy,” Miss Fry said.