Year 5

Round 1: That cats are better than dogs.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Round 2: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Round 3: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Round 4: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Round 5: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Year 6

Round 1: That self-serve at supermarkets is a good idea.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Round 2: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Round 3: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Round 4: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Round 5: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Quarter Final: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate. Arrive 30 minutes before for team photos. Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Semi Final: Topic To Be Advised.

Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Grand Final: Topic To Be Advised.

Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Year 7

Round 1: That schools should ban mullets.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Round 2: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Round 3: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Round 4: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Round 5: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Quarter Final: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate. Arrive 30 minutes before for team photos. Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Semi Final: Topic To Be Advised.

Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Grand Final: Topic To Be Advised.

Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.

Year 8

Round 1: That the cost of an electric vehicle outweighs the benefits.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 4 minutes; warning bell at 3 minutes.

Round 2: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 4 minutes; warning bell at 3 minutes.

Round 3: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 4 minutes; warning bell at 3 minutes.

Round 4: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 4 minutes; warning bell at 3 minutes.

Round 5: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 4 minutes; warning bell at 3 minutes.

Quarter Final: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate. Arrive 30 minutes before for team photos. Speeches of 4 minutes; warning bell at 3 minutes.

Semi Final: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 4 minutes; warning bell at 3 minutes.

Grand Final: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 4 minutes; warning bell at 3 minutes.

Year 9

Round 1: That SpaceX has a worthy goal to develop a colony on Mars.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 5 minutes; warning bell at 4 minutes.

Round 2: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 5 minutes; warning bell at 4 minutes.

Round 3: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 5 minutes; warning bell at 4 minutes.

Round 4: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 5 minutes; warning bell at 4 minutes.

Round 5: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 5 minutes; warning bell at 4 minutes.

Quarter Final: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate. Arrive 30 minutes before for team photos. Speeches of 5 minutes; warning bell at 4 minutes.

Semi Final: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 5 minutes; warning bell at 4 minutes.

Grand Final: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 5 minutes; warning bell at 4 minutes.

Year 10

Round 1: That we should embrace 'Citizen Journalism'.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.

Round 2: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.

Round 3: Topic To Be Advised.

Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.

Round 4: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.

Round 5: Topic To Be Advised.

The Short Preparation Topic will be released 90 minutes before the scheduled debate. View guidelines here
Speeches of 5 minutes; warning bell at 4 minutes.

Quarter Final: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate. Arrive 30 minutes before for team photos. Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.

Semi Final: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.

Grand Final: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.

Senior

Round 1: That Australia should withdraw from the Paris Agreement.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 8 minutes; warning bell at 7 minutes.

Round 2: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 8 minutes; warning bell at 7 minutes.

Round 3: Topic To Be Advised.

Prepared Debate Speeches of 8 minutes; warning bell at 7 minutes.

Round 4: Topic To Be Advised.

The Short Preparation Topic will be released 90 minutes before the scheduled debate. View guidelines here
Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.

Quarter Final:

Prepared Debate. Arrive 30 minutes before for team photos. Speeches of 8 minutes; warning bell at 7 minutes.

Semi Final:

Prepared Debate Speeches of 8 minutes; warning bell at 7 minutes.

Grand Final:

Prepared Debate Speeches of 8 minutes; warning bell at 7 minutes.

Special Formats of Prepared Debates

Quodlibetical Topic

There are a number of issues that can’t be easily expressed in a one-line topic. Therefore you have been given a fictitious scenario, outlined by a few paragraphs, and a topic that is based on this scenario. The following should be noted:

1. The first speaker should not attempt to define the topic word for word, but rather should define the issue(s) or dilemma(s) that the topic presents.

2. It is this issue or dilemma that should be debated in an attempt to prove whichever side of the topic, i.e. feel free to debate the particular issue generally, but be sure to link it back to the topic as this is what you want to argue for or against.

3. There is no need for the first speaker to read out the initial paragraphs as the Chairman will do this before announcing the topic, however, any speaker may refer to these paragraphs as part of his/her argument.

4. Debaters are welcome and are encouraged to conduct further research on the issues presented but note that the scenario itself is often fictitious.

View the 2024 topics here.