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Young people grill Rudd over election promises

By Penny McLintock

Posted February 9, 2010 01:41:00
Updated February 9, 2010 09:59:00

Kevin Rudd talks to students during youth forum

Kevin Rudd talks to students during a question-and-answer forum with young people in Canberra. (ABC News: Renee Trezise )

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was forced to defend his government's record on delivering key election promises during a forum with 200 young people on Monday night.

The young Australians packed into the old House of Representatives chamber in Canberra to put Mr Rudd through his paces live on ABC1's Q&A program.

Climate change, a Commonwealth takeover of the health system and the economy were hot topics, but the audience were also keen to discuss issues affecting them such as the legal drinking age and racism against international students.

One student accused the Prime Minister of breaking a key election pledge to provide each student in years 9 to 12 with a computer.

"We've said a computer for every young person at secondary from Year 9 or above by 2013 or thereabouts," Mr Rudd replied.

"We're on track to doing that. We have about 260,000 computers out there at schools now. That is a fact."

The students were pleased they had an opportunity to pose tough questions to Mr Rudd, but there was some disappointment among the audience.

"Kevin was polished. I think he clearly anticipated a lot of the questions that were coming out," 24-year-old Kevin Wishart said after the forum.

"He managed to deflect a lot of the issues."

Australian National University student Fleur Hawes, 19, agreed.

"Partly a bit of political rhetoric again. We've heard it it all before," she said.

"But it was nice to see it in person and it was really enjoyable.

"I think there should be more youth forums to have youth voices heard in the community. Even if you aren't able to vote, at least have your voice heard."

Some participants felt issues such as same-sex marriage, financial support for university students, education and indigenous topics should have been covered.

"I think some of them [Mr Rudd] avoided quite cleverly," said 16-year-old Canberra high school student Amanda McDonald.

"I think some of the questions were quite carefully selected and there should have been more of a range."

During the forum Mr Rudd said he would like to see the legal drinking age lifted to 21 given that alcohol was a major factor in road crashes involving young drivers.

"If the evidence is there and it is capable of being proven that it works, then we (will) look at these things and make a decision," he said.

"Drinking rates of young teenagers is going through the roof and hugely affecting their ability to manoeuvre a car."

Mr Wishart says the forum is an example of Australia's unique democracy at work.

"To get an opportunity to talk to your elected official one on one in that sort of town hall situation doesn't really come around in many democracies," he said.

"It's a great opportunity and it's good of Kevin to come out and do it. And I think a lot the school children here will probably be a little more informed when they go to the ballot box. "

Canberra student Jacob Kairouz, 15, says the show provided a rare opportunity.

"I think it's fantastic that we get to have a say and voice our opinions to the Prime Minister," he said.

Tags: youth-issues, education, federal-government, health-policy, alcohol, australia, act, canberra-2600

State of the Parties

76 seats required for victory

91.5% counted.
Updated Sat Sep 4 08:36AM
Party % Vote Swing Won Predict
Labor 38.0 -5.4 72
Coalition 43.7 +1.6 73
Greens 11.7 +3.9 1
Others 6.6 -0.1 4

Changing Seats

91.5% counted.
Last updated Sat Sep 4 08:36AM
Time Count % Electorate Held By Margin 2PP % Swing Predict
14:37 93.5 La Trobe L/NP 0.5 50.9 1.4% to ALP ALP GAIN
18:22 91.0 McEwen L/NP 0.0 55.2 5.2% to ALP ALP GAIN
10:36 89.0 Solomon ALP 0.2 51.9 2.0% to CLP CLP GAIN
18:52 83.1 Melbourne ALP 4.7 55.6 10.3% to GRN GRN GAIN
17:37 94.3 Denison ALP 15.3 51.2 16.5% from ALP IND GAIN
15:21 91.2 Bennelong ALP 1.4 53.5 4.9% to LIB LIB GAIN
13:07 92.8 Gilmore * ALP 0.4 55.3 5.7% to LIB LIB WIN
18:07 92.9 Hasluck ALP 0.8 50.6 1.4% to LIB LIB GAIN
16:21 92.0 Macarthur * ALP 0.5 53.0 3.5% to LIB LIB WIN
11:23 92.5 Macquarie ALP 0.3 51.2 1.5% to LIB LIB GAIN
18:54 90.3 Swan * ALP 0.3 52.6 2.8% to LIB LIB WIN
16:53 91.5 Bonner ALP 4.5 52.6 7.1% to LNP LNP GAIN
17:21 89.8 Brisbane ALP 4.6 51.0 5.6% to LNP LNP GAIN
11:36 92.7 Dawson ALP 2.6 52.4 5.0% to LNP LNP GAIN
12:51 93.7 Dickson * ALP 0.8 55.2 5.9% to LNP LNP WIN
14:36 91.1 Flynn ALP 2.2 53.5 5.7% to LNP LNP GAIN
15:21 91.3 Forde ALP 3.4 51.6 5.0% to LNP LNP GAIN
16:06 92.4 Herbert * ALP 0.0 52.1 2.1% to LNP LNP WIN
16:37 90.4 Leichhardt ALP 4.1 54.6 8.7% to LNP LNP GAIN
14:21 92.2 Longman ALP 1.9 52.0 3.9% to LNP LNP GAIN

ABC News Online Investigative Unit

The ABC News Online Investigative Unit encourages whistleblowers, and others with access to information they believe should be revealed for the public good, to contact us.

Election Live

76 needed to form government

91.5% counted.
Updated Sat Sep 4 08:36AM
Party % Vote Swing Won Predict
Labor 38.0 -5.4 72
Coalition 43.7 +1.6 73
Greens 11.7 +3.9 1
Others 6.6 -0.1 4
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