Australia’s first MTV Millennial leader, Williamstown’s Olly Tripodi, is in Canberra this week talking about alcohol-fuelled violence and other issues affecting his generation.
Young people from all over Australia last November voted Mr Tripodi in as the voice of millennials – people born between 1982 and 2003.
Mr Tripodi says one of the issues on the table will be the misinformation surrounding young people and alcohol-fuelled violence.
“Alcohol does not spontaneously make young people violent,” he told the Weekly.
“The issue of alcohol-fuelled violence lies with the aggressive individuals who are ruining it for peaceful young people trying to have a good time.”
Mr Tripodi says the media has a role to play in challenging stereotypes.
“Media sensationalism is pushing the idea that young people are violent and dangerous when they drink, which is rubbish.
“Alcohol-fuelled violence is an inappropriate term, in many ways. The issue is with aggression and violent attitudes, not the service of alcohol.”
During his week in the nation’s capital, Mr Tripodi will be part of a roundtable focusing on young people’s disengagement from politics. At the table will be numerous politicians, among them Australia’s third-longest-serving parliamentarian, Philip Ruddock.
Mr Tripodi will also meet individually with Speaker of the house Bronwyn Bishop, Greens deputy leader and Melbourne MP Adam Bandt, and former youth affairs minister Kate Ellis.
Mr Tripodi says other issues he will raise include gay marriage, asylum seekers, health, education, environmentalism and climate change.
His role is part of MTV’s MOVEMENT campaign and he will be in office until September 14.
