Gidgegannup resident and Youth Member for Swan Hills Zach Cole has been elected as the 14^th Western Australian Youth Premier as a part of the YMCA Western Australian Youth Parliament Program.

Mr Cole was elected on Saturday night by a close margin of 4% in the first ever full electronic election conducted for an Australian Youth Parliament.  The result was announced at a reception in Perth where members of the Youth Parliament assembled to view the results.

“I am thrilled to have been elected as premier by my peers and look forward to working with my fellow government members in creating some solid policy” said Mr Cole.

Elected members of the Western Australian Youth Parliament will meet in July and spend 3 days in parliament debating and passing bills which will presented to the Government and Opposition for their consideration.

Mr Cole is a 19 year old Law and Economics student at the University of Western Australia and will serve out a 12 month term.

Program coordinator Adam Vilaca said “ The new youth premier was elected by one of the closest of margins in Australia with one preference from the agricultural region separating Mr Cole and Mr McKenzie as Premier” Mr Vilaca also said “The Youth Parliament Taskforce is looking forward to working with the new Cole Youth-Government”

Rivervale resident Mr Matthew McKenzie was elected as the Deputy Premier.