Somerville House join in on ABC’s Q&A debate

Last night (16 April), sixteen students from Years 10 to 12, along with teachers, Mrs Julie Brunckhorst, Ms Laura Duffield, Ms Joanna Gardiner, Ms Kira Sampson, Ms Arita Petavrakis and Ms Nyree Hatzimihail, had the opportunity to attend the Australian Broadcasting Association (ABC) Q&A Election 2019: Battle for Queensland debate, as audience members.

Held at the Brisbane Powerhouse, students heard from an insightful guest panel including Liberal National Senator, James McGrath, Labor MP, Terri Butler, Greens Senator, Larissa Waters and One Nation Senate Candidate, Malcolm Roberts. 

With a row of green uniforms catching the eye of the nation during the live broadcast, 2019 Academic Captain, Noemie D C, submitted a question in advance to Labor MP, Terry Butler and had it selected out of a pool of approximately 500 audience members. Called upon to ask her question live on air, Noemie delivered it with poise, challenging the panel with an articulate, well-informed question around Adani. 

“How can Labor promise to take real action on climate change as said by Bill Shorten, but not come out against the Adani coal mine?” Noemie asked. 

Terri Butler, incumbent member for Queensland’s Griffith region, thanked Noemie for her insightful question and expressed how she was glad to see a local school as a part of the show's audience. 

“I’m very pleased to see Somerville House here tonight, it’s wonderful to have a local school in the audience,” Terri Butler said. 

To view the panel's full response to Noemie’s question on last night’s episode, please follow this link to the ABC Q&A Twitter page.