2024 Schools' Competition Topics
Year 5
All debates are Prepared Debates. Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.
Round 1:
That cats are better than dogs.
Round 2:
That homework should be banned in Primary school.
Round 3:
That it is better to be an only child.
Round 4:
That teachers should wear a uniform to school.
Round 5:
That Australian students should clean their classrooms like Japanese children. (see video link)
Year 6/7
All debates are Prepared Debates. Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.
Round 1:
That self serve at supermarkets is a good idea.
Round 2:
That schools should provide free lunches for students.
Round 3:
That schools should adopt a four day week.
Round 4:
That the Bluey $1 coin should be put into general circulation.
Round 5:
That Hobby Horsing should be an Olympic sport.
Quarter Final:
That NAPLAN should be abolished.
Arrive 30 minutes before for team photos. Speeches of 3 minutes; warning bell at 2 minutes.
Semi Final:
That Wave Pools undermine the integrity of surfing. (see link as starting point to general discussion of surfing)
Grand Final:
That there should be a pledge of allegiance for Australian school children.
Year 8
All debates are Prepared Debates. Speeches of 4 minutes; warning bell at 3 minutes.
Round 1:
That there should be a mandatory retirement age for politicians.
Round 2:
That banning office cakes would be a crummy idea. (See link)
Round 3:
That 'rewilding' is misguided.
Round 4:
That private schools in Australia should be abolished.
Round 5:
That women should refrain from wearing make-up.
Quarter Final:
That targeted advertising should be banned
Arrive 30 minutes before for team photos. Speeches of 4 minutes; warning bell at 3 minutes.
Semi Final:
That tourism is a threat to the Great Barrier Reef.
Grand Final:
That the costs of an Electric Vehicle outweighs the benefits.
Year 9
All debates are Prepared Debates.
Speeches of 5 minutes; warning bell at 4 minutes.
Round 1:
That "Influencers" are detrimental to society.
Round 2:
That courts should not override the rights of parents. (See link)
Round 3:
That 'Hostile Architecture' is necessary.
Round 4:
That a cashless society is a bad idea.
Round 5:
That the portrait of Gina Rhinehart should be removed by the gallery. (see link)
Quarter Final:
That the national age of criminal responsibility should be raised to 14 years.
Arrive 30 minutes before for team photos. Speeches of 5 minutes; warning bell at 4 minutes.
Semi Final:
That SpaceX has a worthy goal to develop a colony on Mars.
Grand Final:
That immigration is good for Australia.
Year 10
Rounds 1 to 4 are Prepared Debates. Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.
Round 1:
That Australia should adopt "15 minute cities."
Round 2:
That Chat GPT should be banned in schools.
Round 3:
That conscription should be introduced in Australia.
Round 4:
That nuclear power plants in Australia are a good idea.
Round 5:
Short Preparation Debate
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:
That big business should remain neutral on social issues.
Arrive 30 minutes before for team photos. Speeches of 6 minutes; warning bell at 5 minutes.
Semi Final:
That the university HECS debt should be abolished.
Grand Final:
That Australia should withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
Senior
Round 1: That Italy's ban on lab-grown meat is a good idea.
Prepared Debate Speeches of 8 minutes; warning bell at 7 minutes.
Round 2: That Australia should have abstained from voting on the Palestinian UN Membership bid.
Prepared Debate Speeches of 8 minutes; warning bell at 7 minutes.
Round 3: That traditional masculinity matters.
Prepared Debate Speeches of 8 minutes; warning bell at 7 minutes.
Round 4: Short Preparation Debate
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: That Australia should consider mechanisms to withdraw from the UN.
Arrive 30 minutes before for team photos. Speeches of 8 minutes; warning bell at 7 minutes.
Semi Final: That we should embrace 'Citizen Journalism'.
Grand Final: That Trump is the best choice for President.
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.