Seventeen-year-old Emmanuel Giakoumakis will take over the reigns of Parliament House Victoria on Monday as the newly elected Victorian Youth Premier.
The Year 12 Keilor Downs Secondary College student will lead 95 other youth representatives at the 24th YMCA Victorian Youth Parliament as they debate key issues facing young people between 16 and 25.
Giakoumakis highlighted that the Youth Parliament is important to young people as it embodies a legitimate platform for their voices to be heard.
“Youth are often discredited because of our age and experience but there’s a lot of things youth have to contribute,” he said.
“The things that matter to young people need to be heard because we are the future leaders, but by that time it will be too late for changes to be made in conjunction with what is affecting us now.”
The youth representatives will present 16 pieces of proposed legislation on 5, 6 and 8 July, which they initiated in smaller teams and have spent the last three months writing.
Following a conscience vote and the assent of the Youth Governor, the Bills will be handed to Minister for Youth Affairs James Merlino for consideration.
Giakoumakis and his team are seeking to amend the Liquor Control Reform act in a bid to revitalise Melbourne’s live music scene.
“A lot of people are losing out because of how expensive liquor licenses are. Not only does it make it hard for bands to afford to play live music at a venue, but it has a flow-on effect to patrons. So me and my team wanted to try to change having to pay $150 for a concert ticket and $9 for a drink.”
Giakoumakis added that the mandatory employment of security guards by live music venues was costing venues too much and was putting.
He proposed that venues should be able to employ security guards at their own discretion for venues with under 200 patrons, and that an essential database of recording patron behaviour should be introduced to deter drinking-related violence.
Other Bills to be debated by the Youth Parliament next week include Increased Rights and Support for Homosexuals, Harsher Punishments Including Jail Time for Cyber Bullying, Lowering Probationary Driving to 17, and Positive Body Image Standards in Advertising.
Over 20 Youth Parliament Bills including the mandatory wearing of bike helmets have gone on to become Victorian legislation.
Giakoumakis said that he was looking forward to the experience of being  Victorian Youth Premier, however, was not taking the role too seriously as a potential career path.
“It is an opportunity for me to be heard and build up my skills but I still want to live a bit more,” he said.