Eleven-year-old Nathan Marsh is not happy. He has been feeling embarrassed, down and angry since finding out Shellharbour City Council is looking to ban children under the age of 18 from addressing council meetings.
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The move came after councillors claimed kids had been reading things about issues they did not understand, effectively giving an adult two chances to address the council.
There were also concerns about how to hold children under 18 liable for defamatory comments.
"I am an individual; I am my own person with my own ideas," Nathan said.
"I've always tried my best, followed the rules and been honest.
"It is boring and takes ages to write speeches.
"I get nervous about speaking, but I think it is the right thing to do."
It was a stormy night inside and outside the council chambers on Tuesday as councillors voted 4-3 to endorse the controversial ban.
The proposal is included in a review of the council's code of meeting practice and will be on public exhibition for comment until February 9.
It is believed the council would be the first in NSW to introduce an age restriction on speakers.
Nine speakers lined up to address the council on the issue on Tuesday night, including Nathan, the son of former mayor Kellie Marsh, and 10-year-old Calum Harvie-McKay, who said he was "confused" by the proposal.
"I don't understand ... we are just kids," he said.
During a heated debate, in which Cr Helen Stewart declared "the wheels have fallen off the council", Cr Paul Rankin defended the proposal. He said 18 was "a fair and reasonable age" to be allowed to speak.
Cr Rankin said he had done his own research, and quoted from an article from The Spectator, a British magazine.
"Children lacking the independence of mind to make decisions for themselves are easily manipulated," Cr Rankin said.
"All the worst political movements in history from the Nazis to the Taliban have been youth heavy, which is no surprise, as teenagers, on average, are the least informed section of society."
Cr Marianne Saliba introduced a mayoral minute requesting a report on forming a youth council or youth advisory committee.
Cr Marsh said that should be established regardless of whether council allows children to address it.
Charles Harvie, Calum's father, said under the "draconian" proposal 26 per cent of the population of Shellharbour City would be unable to address council meetings.
Keith Rhoades, president of Local Government NSW, which represents NSW councils, said he had never heard of an age restriction on addressing council before, but said meeting codes were entirely a call for the council.
A spokeswoman for the Office of Local Government said: "It is a matter for each council to decide whether its meeting code should provide for public participation and how that is to occur."
That would include "deciding if and when members of the public are allowed to speak, and any limitation on the number of speakers or time for speeches".
