2002 Archdale Debating Topics

SENIOR TOPICS

Round 1: That refugees deserve our sympathy.That our government should welcome the refugees.

Round 2: That males are the forgotten gender.That feminism will not achieve equality.

Round 3: That our government is environmentally unsound.That 'Clean Up Australia Day' is only a day.

Round 4: That the reconciliation ship has run out of steam.That we pay lip service to reconciliation.

Round 5: That 'The Simpsons' are a reflection of our society.That we learn more from television.

Round 6: That regional groupings are more relevant.That internationalism is not the answer.

Round 7: That without war there can be no words.That negotiation is needed.

INTERMEDIATE TOPICS

Round 1: That charity should start at home.That we should open our doors to the refugees.

Round 2: That equality between the sexes is only an ideal.That equality between the sexes is too hard.

Round 3: That we should do more for our environment.That we ignore our environment.

Round 4: That we are confused about our national identity.That we need to pay more attention to race relations.

Round 5: That television mimics life.That pop culture controls us.

Round 6: That global organisations don't work.That the United Nations has failed.

Round 7: That war is wrong.That wars do not produce peace.

JUNIOR TOPICS

Round 1: That Australia should look after its neighbours.Round 2: That boys have it tough.Round 3: That the koala is more important than the microchip.Round 4: That multiculturalism is a mirage.Round 5: That television is no longer entertainment.Round 6: That we need a world police force.Round 7: That we should make peace not war.

2003 Archdale Debating Topics

SENIOR TOPICS

Round 1: That our youth are frightened.That marriage is an outdated institution.

Round 2: That soap operas have more influence than the pulpit.That we learn more from popular culture than we can from the classics.

Round 3: That it is the legitimate function of a school to promote change in society.That there is a place for corporate sponsorship in schools.

Round 4: That war can never be a solution.That war is the last option.

Round 5: That Australia's strength is its diversity.That diversity creates harmony.

Round 6: That women deserve sport's spotlight.That sport is a man's world.

Round 7: That scientists should be free to study whatever they wish.That scientists are the new prophets.

Play-Off 1: That the west is in decline.That we should promote sex education in the developing world.That the green movement is a western luxury.

Play-Off 2: That developing nations should be accountable for the aid they receive.That western companies abide by western laws in the developing world.That the western way of life is doomed.

Semi-Final 1:

That 'law and order' is a euphemism for the defence of privilege.That parenthood should be by license only.That permissive society has gone too far.

Semi-Final 2:

That competition is only for winners.That free will is a myth.That the state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation.

Final: That Feminism is sexist.That Feminism has achieved its aims.That women's liberation is a misnomer.

INTERMEDIATE TOPICS

Round 1: That it is more important to attack drinking than smoking.That it's not easy being different.

Round 2: That Britney Spears is a bad role model.That Joe Millionaire should be dumped.

Round 3: That education begins after school.That education should prepare for the workforce.

Round 4: That Australia should become a state of America.That America is our best friend.

Round 5: That multiculturalism is in Australia's best interest.That Australia does not give everyone a fair go.

Round 6: That sportswomen should receive more attention.That women in sport deserve more respect.

Round 7: That science is a menace.That science is our worst enemy.

Play-Off 1: That we should give more aid to the developing world.That we have a lot to learn from the developing world.That the developing world should look after itself.

Play-Off 2: That the west should invest more in the developing world.That we should send free medicine to the developing world.That the developing world should look after itself.

Semi-Final 1: That guns trigger violence.That we learn from our mistakes.That rules were made to be broken.

Semi-Final 2: That there are more snakes than ladders in life.That we should break the law in order to change it.That we should do our own thing.

Final: That men are the forgotten gender.That Barbie should be banned.That all employers should provide child care.

JUNIOR TOPICS

Round 1: That Year 7 should still be in primary school.Round 2: That television is a waste of time.Round 3: That going to school should be voluntary.Round 4: That Australia follows America too often.Round 5: That multiculturalism is Australia's greatest asset.Round 6: That school sport should be compulsory for girls.Round 7: That we should explore space.Play-Off 1: That the rich nations deserve their riches.Play-Off 2: That Australia should accept more refugees.Semi-Finals: That it's the simple things in life that count.Final: That girls have it tough.

2004 Archdale Debating Topics

SENIOR TOPICS

Round 1: That young Australians should have their own political party.

Round 2: That trade should be linked to human rights.Round 3: That our media no longer serves the public interest.

That the media is mightier than the parliament.Round 4: That the internet should be censored in public libraries.

That surrogacy should be legalised.Round 5: That we should legalise drugs in sport.

That the Athens Olympics should be the last.Round 6: That the Greens are the future.

That two-party dominance harms democracy.Round 7: That children who kill should be tried as adults.

That we should support a DNA registry for convicted criminals.

Round 8: That we should increase public funding to private schools.

Round 9: That America needs a new rival.Play-Off 1: That Saddam Hussein should not be tried in an Iraqi

court.Play-Off 2: That the Federal Government has failed women.Semi-Final 2: That the environment must come first.

That the government should ratify the Kyoto treaty.That we should support tradable pollution quotas.

Grand Final: That the Redfern riots were long overdue.That we are better off without ATSIC.That we should trade land for peace with indigenous Australia.

INTERMEDIATE TOPICS

Round 1: That the voting age should be lowered to 16.Round 2: That detention centres are no place for children.Round 3: That the ABC needs more government funding.

That we should ban offensive music.Round 4: That animal testing should be banned.

That space exploration is a waste of money.Round 5: That money has corrupted sport.

That our sports stars make bad role models.Round 6: That our politicians are failing us.

That John Howard is good for Australia's future.Round 7: That we should get tough on crime.

That we should continue with safe injecting rooms.

Round 8: That all secondary schools should be co-educational.Round 9: That we should support a US-led war on terror.Play-Off 1: That countries which opposed the war in Iraq have no

responsibility to aid its reconstruction.Play-Off 2: That the media should pay more attention to women in

sport.Semi-Final 1:

That the internet has ruined the English language.That internet dating is the way of the future.That the internet promotes tolerance.

Semi-Final 2:

That global warming demands global actions.That we fear a global greenhouse.That we should link aid to emissions reduction.

Grand Final:

That reconciliation has lost its way.That we should reserve seats in federal parliament for Aboriginal representation.That we should say 'sorry'.

YEAR 8 TOPICS

Round 1: That parents should have the right to smack their children.

Round 2: That Australia should do more for human rights.Round 3: That junk food companies should be allowed to advertise

to children.That Eminem should be prevented from touring Australia.

Round 4: That smoking should be banned.That organ donation should be compulsory.

Round 5: That the media should pay more attention to women in sport.That the Olympic spirit is dead.

Round 6: That we should have compulsory military service.That voting should no longer be compulsory.

Round 7: That arsonists should face compulsory imprisonment.That we should support mandatory sentencing.

Round 8: That education should focus on career skills.Round 9: That America has done more harm than good.Play-Off 1: That Australia's troops should be home by Christmas.Play-Off 2: That women's magazine's do more harm than good.Semi-Final 1:

That we should disconnect the internet.That there should be more computers in schools.That email is consuming our lives.

Semi-Final 2:

That we must stop all whaling.That we need to do more to protect Tasmania's forests.That we should ban all private cars to reduce pollution in Sydney.

Grand Final: That we should have quotas for indigenous content on television.That we are failing our indigenous people.

That we should guarantee indigenous people a place at university.

YEAR 7 TOPICS

Round 1: That the Playstation has destroyed the playground.Round 2: That Australia should accept more refugees.Round 3: That television is too violent.Round 4: That we should not eat genetically modified foods.Round 5: That Australia spends too much on its Olympic athletes.Round 6: That the voting age should be raised to 21.Round 7: That we should ban alcoholic drinks.Round 8: That high school should run from 9 to 5.Round 9: That Australia should send troops to US-led wars.Semi-Final 1:

That we need nannies on the net.

Semi-Final 2:

That Australia needs nuclear power stations.

Grand Final:

That Aboriginal athletes should be allowed to carry the Aboriginal flag at the Olympics.

2005 Archdale Debating Topics

SENIOR TOPICS

Round 1: That Australia is being left behind on Kyoto.Round 2: That privacy is not as important as security.Round 3: That the UN should have a standing army.Round 4: That voters should have to pass a political awareness

test.Round 5: That Australia needs a Bill of Rights.Round 6: That there is no such thing as ethical foreign policy.Round 7: That the internet has the power to keep Rupert Murdoch

and Kerry Packer in checkRound 8: That the HECS system has been good for Australia.Play-Off 3: That the glass ceiling no longer exists.

That the Howard Government should leave IVF alone.That feminism has left the boys behind.

Grand Final: That the US has killed the UN.That the world needs a vote in the US Presidential elections.That the USA should keep its nose out of other nations' business.

INTERMEDIATE TOPICS

Round 1: That we should have compulsory drug testing in schools.Round 2: That we should allow all forms of human cloning.Round 3: That the Australian government should ratify the Kyoto

treaty.Round 4: That the new peace deal is the answer.Round 5: That the government should build more safe injecting

rooms.Round 6: That membership for Turkey is a bad idea.Round 7: That all religious symbols should be illegal in government

schools.Round 8: That the AIDS crisis is out of control.Play-Off 2: That we should negotiate with the kidnappers.

That Australia should leave Iraq alone.That the war in Iraq will never end.

Play-Off 3: That feminism has left the boys behind.That mothers should be more highly valued.That Australian companies should have a more flexible working day.

Grand Final: That we have more to hope than fear from a powerful USA.That the USA is a good global citizen.That US culture is destroying the world.

YEAR 8 TOPICS

Round 1: That we should vote reality television off the island.Round 2: That professional athletes are paid too much money.Round 3: That no film should be banned from adult audiences.Round 4: That parents should be made responsible for their

children's crime.Round 5: That Australia should accept more refugees.Round 6: That Australian companies should be required to have

women in half the chairs in the board room.Round 7: That an Australian Republic is a good idea.Round 8: That violent video games are destroying our generation's

minds.Play-Off 1: That Sydneysiders should have shorter showers.

That litterbugs should face harsher penalties.That we should ban cars in the city.

Play-Off 2: That we should legalise performance enhancing drugs for elite athletes.That we should ban caffeine in professional football.That we can no longer expect our athletes to be drug-free.

Play-Off 3: That half of all teachers should be men.That women deserve more of the sporting spotlight.That young women need better role models.

Grand That we should close down all Krispy Kreme outlets while

Final: we still can.That the US has been good for the world.That Australia should keep America as its best friend.

YEAR 7 TOPICS

Round 1: That all public transport in Sydney should be free.Round 2: That those who cheat in professional sports should be

banned from competition for life.Round 3: That smoking in both public and private should be

prohibited.Round 4: That all school students throughout the world should be

taught exclusively in English.Round 5: That fast food companies should pay people

compensation for damaging their health.Round 6: That we should introduce paid maternity leave in

Australia.Round 7: That an Australian Republic is a good idea.Round 8: That schools should do all their teaching on computers.Play-Off 1: That serious bullying at school should lead to expulsion.Play-Off 2: That parents know best.Play-Off 3: That we need more women in federal parliament.Grand Final: That there is too much American content on our TV

screens.

2006 Archdale Debating Topics

SENIOR TOPICS

Round 1: That the government should cease funding to private schools.

Round 2: That cheerleaders should be banned in the National Rugby League.

Round 3: That we should allow parents to arrest and detain terror suspects without charge.

Round 4: That the government should relax cross media ownership laws.

Round 5: That we should deny smokers access to Medicare.Round 6: That affirmative action causes more problems that it solves.Round 7: That Australia should place relations in Asia ahead of those

with the US.Play-Off 1: That genetically modified foods should be banned.

That parents should be able to choose the gender of their children.That the federal government should provide more funding for science.

Play-Off 2: That zero tolerance policing is the way forward for

Aboriginal communities.That we should legalise gay marriages.That political correctness restricts freedom of speech.

Play-Off 3: That the ALP should support the mining of uranium.That the government should deter the use of fossil fuels.That the government should introduce financial incentives for recycling.

Grand Final:

That we should crush North Korea's nuclear ambitions.That US foreign policy is the greatest danger to global stability.That the UN should impose sanctions on Israel.

INTERMEDIATE TOPICS

Round 1: That school formals should be banned.Round 2: That sports stars make good role models.Round 3: That we should allow drug testing in schools.Round 4: That commercial television stations should be forced to

show more Australian content.Round 5: That the government should provide more funding for

public hospitals.Round 6: That today's women are expected to do it all.Round 7: That we should lower the voting age to 16.Play-Off 1: That technology is detrimental to our relationships with

others.That Science should be compulsory in the HSC.That the internet has done more harm than good for our education.

Play-Off 2: That Australian Aboriginals are treated as second-class citizens.That society suffers from celebrity overload.That political correctness has gone too far.

Play-Off 3: That the government should invest more money in public transport.That we should pay more for water.That the government should introduce financial incentives for recycling.

Grand Final:

That we should abolish third world debt.That we should negotiate with terrorists.That we should impose democracy by force.

YEAR 8 TOPICS

Round 1: That we learn more from our parents than our teachers.Round 2: That school sport should be compulsory.Round 3: That the government should introduce curfews for under

16s.Round 4: That it should be compulsory for students to read the

newspaper.Round 5: That smoking should be banned in all public places.

Round 6: That commercial television stations should be forced to show more women's sport.

Round 7: That we need more women in parliament.Play-Off 1: That we have become too dependent on technology.

That violent video games should be banned.That technology is detrimental to our relationships with others.

Play-Off 2: That we should force the wealthy to give to charityThat our society needs to be more tolerant of others.That more needs to be done to improve road safety.

Play-Off 3: That Sydneysiders should take shorter showers.That the government should invest more money in public transport.That a toll should be charged on all vehicles that enter the CBD.

Grand Final:

That Australia has become the 51st state of America.That we need a global police force.That there should be more student exchanges with Asia.

YEAR 7 TOPICS

Round 1: That school hours should be extended to 5pm.Round 2: That the Commonwealth Games have had their dayRound 3: That parents should have the right to know where their

children are at all times.Round 4: That students spend too much time in front of the

television.Round 5: That the advertising of junk food should be banned on

television.Round 6: That the media provides bad female role models.Round 7: That children should have a voice in the political process.Play-Off 1: That we learn more from computers than from our

teachers.Play-Off 2: That there should be tougher consequences for breaking

the speed limit.Play-Off 3: That public transport should be free.Grand Final:

That the US is the greatest threat to global peace.

2008 Archdale Debating Topics

SENIOR TOPICS

Round 1:

That finishing Year 12 should be compulsory.

Round 2:

That the Olympics should be hosted by countries with a good human rights record.

Round 3:

That unions have become redundant in today's workplace.

Round 4:

That we should prosecute domestic violence cases without the victims consent.

Round 5:

That the ABC should be privatised.

Round 6:

That developed countries should take greater responsibility for meeting carbon emission targets.

Round 7:

That Aboriginal welfare should be linked to school attendance.

Play-Off 1:

That we should tax alcopops.That we should tax petrol to reduce carbon emissions.That saying sorry is not enough.

Play-Off 2:

That parents should be able to choose the sex of their unborn children.That euthanasia should be legalised.That health professionals should not be obliged to treat ice addicts.

Play-Off 3:

That security is more important than civil liberties in the fight against terrorism.That we should establish a European-style union in the Asia-Pacific.That we should close down Guantanamo Bay immediately.

Grand Final:

That USA should elect Barack Obama.That the African Union should block trade with Zimbabwe.That the UN Security Council should be reformed.

INTERMEDIATE TOPICS

Round 1: That we should introduce random drug testing in all schools.

Round 2: That good sportsmanship is a thing of the past.Round 3: That all adolescents should participate in part time work.Round 4: That we should introduce compulsory paid parental leave.Round 5: That schools should expel all cyber-bullies.Round 6: That we should tax non-recyclable products.Round 7: That compulsory voting should be abolished.Play-Off 1: That the Australian government should provide permanent

accommodation for homeless youth. That same sex marriage should be recognised in Australia.That private schools fail to prepare their students for the real world.

Play-Off 2: That students with disabilities should be educated in separate schools.That we should ban cosmetic surgery.That developing countries should have free unlimited access to HIV/AIDS drugs.

Play-Off 3: That Australians that commit crimes overseas should be

tried in Australia.That all police officers in NSW should have the right to bear and use taser guns.That a curfew should be placed on children under 16 years of age.

Grand Final:

That third world debt should be cancelled.That USA should elect Barack Obama.That a strong dictatorship is better than a weak democracy.

JUNIOR TOPICS

Round 1: That school hours should be extended to 5pm.Round 2: That team sport should be compulsory.Round 3: That children under 16 should have unlimited access to

their savings.Round 4: That the media unfairly targets female celebrities.Round 5: That we spend too much time on the internet.Round 6: That we should ban cars in the CBD.Round 7: That young people need a greater voice in the running of

local government.Play-Off 1: That it should be mandatory for the wealthy to donate to

charity.That teachers should intervene in friendship disputes.That young girls should be prohibited from purchasing beauty magazines.

Play-Off 2: That sun protection should be monitored on the beach.That all representations of smoking in the media should be banned.That schools should provide free nutritional meals.

Play-Off 3: That community service is an effective punishment.That speed cameras have a legitimate function.That we should strip police of the right to carry guns.

Grand Final:

That Australia should boycott the Beijing Olympics.That the costs of World Youth Day outweighed its benefits.That refugees should be exempt from the citizenship test.

2009 Archdale Debating Topics

SENIOR TOPICS

Round 1: That special provisions undermine the fairness of the HSC.Round 2: That the government should provide financial incentives for

being fit.Round 3: That banks receiving government financial support should

maintain their current number of employees.Round 4: That universities should award scholarships to female

students for their science, engineering and technology

based courses.Round 5: That journalists should be compelled to reveal their

sources.Round 6: That medical students should be required to work in remote

communities to complete their degree.Round 7: That we should defer the introduction of an emissions

trading scheme until the economy is recovering.Play-Off 2: That parents should be able to choose the gender of their

children.That we should legalise surrogacy in Australia.That health insurers should have access to their members' DNA.

Play-Off 3: That indigenous affairs should be managed by indigenous people.That we should wait until after the Copenhagen conference to decide on an emissions trading scheme.That the federal government should assume all control of state affairs for NSW.

Grand Final:

That the Australian government should do more to protect its citizens in criminal matters overseas.That China and India should take greater responsibility for their carbon emissions.That we should do more to support the democratic movement in Iran.

INTERMEDIATE TOPICS

Round 1: That bullying outside school hours should be punished at school.

Round 2: That junk food should be taxed.Round 3: That a Chief Executive's salary should reflect the

performance of his or her company.Round 4: That women should be allowed to serve on the frontline.Round 5: That the government should censor the internet.Round 6: That indigenous communities should be allowed to pass

their own laws.Round 7: That the government should stop running hospitals.Play-Off 1: That government funding to private schools should be

dependent on a set quota of Indigenous students.That public schools promote social harmony better than private schools.That our "national identity" is a myth.

Play-Off 2: That health professionals should not be obliged to treat ice addicts.That we should prohibit non medical forms of plastic surgery.That we should be more proactive in the way we treat eating disorders.

Play-Off 3: That higher taxes are the best way to reduce binge

drinking.That all police should be provided with taser guns.That the federal government's 'education revolution' is a waste of taxpayer money.

Grand Final:

That we should cease giving aid to countries with a poor human rights record.That our relationship with the United States is becoming increasingly irrelevant.That enough Australians have died in Afghanistan.

JUNIOR TOPICS

Round 1: That school should go from Monday to Saturday, 9am to 1pm.

Round 2: That contact sports should be banned in schools.Round 3: That all students should engage in part time work.Round 4: That female celebrities are poor role models.Round 5: That online relationships are not as beneficial as face-to-

face relationships.Round 6: That school leavers should complete 100 hours of

compulsory community service.Round 7: That we should lower the voting age to 16.Play-Off 1: That technology has dehumanised us.

That adults should refrain from drinking and gambling in the presence of children.That we are a tolerant society.

Play-Off 2: That doctors should be able to choose whether to treat smokers.That there should be an age restriction on purchasing energy drinks.That we should ban solariums.

Play-Off 3: That obesity is a problem for individuals and not the government.That we should introduce compulsory "parenting classes" for first-time parents.That all police should be provided with weapons.

Grand Final:

That a strong dictatorship is better than a weak democracy.That learning a foreign language should be compulsory for Australian school students from K-12.That Australia should protect the health of its citizens by quarantining all international arrivals.

2010 Archdale Debating Topics

SENIOR TOPICS

Round 1: That the government should do more to combat teen binge drinking.

Round 2: That all Sydney suburbs should accept high rise developments.

Round 3: That women's equality is more important than religious and cultural tradition.

Round 4: That high speed police chases should be outlawed.Round 5: That there should be places in parliament reserved for

indigenous Australians.Round 6: That Kevin Rudd was wrong to defer the Emissions Trading

Scheme.Round 7: That we should have laws to increase the number of

women on company boards.Play-Off 1: That China and India should not have resisted binding

emissions targets at Copenhagen.That the US Government should take over the clean up of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.That Australia is right to take Japan to the International Court of Justice over its scientific whaling program.

Play-Off 2: That the children of sperm donors should be allowed to know the identity of their donor father.That we should legalise marijuana.That Australia should not export uranium while banning new nuclear reactors at home.

Play-Off 3: That there should be no limits on artistic expression.That Channel 7 should not have reported on David Campbell's private life.That internet service providers should be accountable for the illegal downloads of their customers.

Grand Final:

That the International Criminal Court should be able to give the death penalty for crimes against humanity.That we should reverse Australia's ban on processing Sri Lankan and Afghani asylum seekers.That we should support state sanctioned assassination of known terrorists.

INTERMEDIATE TOPICS

Round 1: That junk food advertising should be banned.Round 2: That inner city households should own only one car.Round 3: That the fashion and beauty industry is a bad influence.Round 4: That there should be a curfew on unsupervised young

people in public.Round 5: That the results of NAPLAN tests should be published.Round 6: That Sydney should prioritise cycleways over motorways.Round 7: That schools should teach students personal financial

management skills.

Play-Off 1: That western museums should return artefacts to the

countries they were taken from.That local content requirements for Australian television should be dropped.That Australia should not trade with countries with poor labour standards.

Play-Off 2: That Jessica Watson should have stayed home.That governments should provide heroin addicts with safe injection facilities.That indigenous offenders should be able to choose to be punished using customary law.

Play-Off 3: That criminals should not be allowed to benefit financially from their crimes.That Australia should ban the burqa.That courts should be able to compel journalists to reveal their sources.

Grand Final:

That Australians convicted of crimes overseas should be able to serve their sentences in Australia.That torture should be allowed in the interests of national security.That Australia should legalise euthanasia.

JUNIOR TOPICS

Round 1: That daily exercise should be part of the school timetable.Round 2: That there should be financial rewards for people who use

public transport.Round 3: That beauty and fashion magazines are a bad influence.Round 4: That the parents of children who commit crimes should

also be penalised.Round 5: That the private lives of politicians should remain private.Round 6: That Earth hour is a waste of time.Round 7: That part time employment should be compulsory for

school students.Play-Off 1: That globalisation is bad for Australian culture.

That we should remove the Union Jack from the Australian Flag.That democracy is always the best form of government.

Play-Off 2: That war toys and games for under 12s should be banned.That an individual should be allowed to ride a bicycle without a helmet.That experiments involving animals cannot be justified.

Play-Off 3: That freedom of speech is more important than being polite.That pop stars should be judged by their work not their lifestyle.That parents should monitor their under 16s' Facebook pages.

Grand Final:

That we should not take our holidays in countries where human rights are abused.That prisoners should have the right to vote.

That countries with poor human rights records should not be allowed in the Olympics.