John Monash Science School Students Win Inaugural Barton Parliamentary Competition

“I see myself as being incredibly lucky to live in a democracy that listens to my voice; however, that privilege also comes with a responsibility to be educated about our political situation and to engage in dialogue through debate in order to better understand the way forward”.

This is what our Year 10 student Patrick told us, after he was awarded the Barton Parliamentarian Award. Alongside fellow Year 10 students Javier and Minh, the JMSS team took home the trophy in the inaugural Barton Parliamentary Competition, held on 5 September 2026 by The Robert Menzies Institute.

Students debated on three topics in mock parliamentary proceedings. Two of them were provided in advance, including bills relating to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and the 1950 proposal to ban the Australian Communist Party. On the day of the competition, participants were also given just 45 minutes to prepare arguments on the banning of gambling advertisements.

When asked how they prepared for the competition, Javier said, “We had to do lots of background research, specifically around Robert Menzies and 1950s Australian politics.”

Minh explained further, “For the first two bills (AI regulation and banning of Australian Communist Party), I researched the historical responses used at the time, along with the current usages, regulations, and harms of AI. in the current day. I didn’t understand how the competition would work, specifically, so my preparation didn’t involve any speeches or amendments but rather just research on the topic and their potential responses.”

Patrick also shared his experience preparing for the historic bill.

 “I prepared by looking into and taking notes about the key figures, events, and ideological movements influencing politics at the time, as well as previous high court cases and jurisprudence about constitutional interpretation to determine the constitutionality of the bill being proposed, allowing me to better rebut the arguments put forward by my opposition”

The Barton Parliamentary Competition is a collaboration between Per Vocem Vita, a student-led not-for-profit organisation, and the Robert Menzies Institute. It is designed to encourage thoughtful discussion and debate on political issues. Participants are judged on their research, creative and critical thinking, and ability to present and defend their ideas.

Congratulations to Patrick, Javier, and Minh on this outstanding achievement. Their success reflects not only their dedication and preparation, but also their ability to think critically, communicate persuasively, and engage thoughtfully with complex issues.

Read the news update from the Robert Menzies Institute and find out more about the Barton Parliamentary Competition HERE.