Statement begins

There is a universal experience, shared by all young people. All young people have, at some point, been right -- only to be condescended to by those who insist they know better simply by of their age.

Today, the members of the Youth Advisory Group had that experience. The Prime Minister -- full of condescension and smug affect -- has decided to refuse their resignations.

Here is the PM standing up and saying she knows better than the members of the Youth Advisory Group, saying that they need to sit down and listen to lectures from their "betters" -- by which, of course, the PM means their elders.

The former members of the YAG who planned these protests have every right to be outraged by this response. The Prime Minister should have accepted these resignations and then worked to meet the protesters' demands, not simply decided that she knows better than them, that it would be appropriate to try and stifle this free expression of frustration.

Perhaps this is why the former members did not accept the Prime Minister's so called "open invitation." They knew it would simply be Youmaton bundling them into a sterile office, giving them a condescending lecture, and then sending them on their way.

In fact, it is no surprise that the Prime Minister isn't listening to the youth -- after all, every policy she has mentioned are just former policies of the Socialist and Greens governments. She has made no effort to meet the needs to today, and merely lists off policies designed to address problems many years ago.

If the Prime Minister were serious, she would sit down with the protesters and hear from them. She should listen. However, all she wants to do is lecture, tell them she knows best, and refuse their right to protest.

The former members of the YAG are now completely justified in their protests, and their planned port blockade and disruption of the President's Speech must go ahead.

Quotes attributable to TheSensibleCentre

"Prime Minister, one of the first things we learn to do is listen. So why do you think you can get away with not listening to these people who are fighting for their future?"

"Go ahead and do it. Blockade that port, disrupt the President's Speech. The PM doesn't intend to listen, not unless you make her."

"I would've accepted their resignations and sat down with them. I would've listened, not lectured. But that's the arrogance of this PM."