The Rotary-hosted Gunnedah event encouraged teens to debate on a wide range of international issues on behalf of their chosen countries. The Inverell and Inverell East Rotary Clubs sponsored the local teams.

"They've got to put themselves in the position of what the question is. If it's about prostitution or child smuggling or building space stations, whatever; they have to argue for and against regardless of their beliefs," Inverell High teacher Julie Clendinning said.

"There were some tricky questions in there, but the kids handled them well."

Rife with bribery and wild shenanigans, the locals found themselves debating world issues in a room of colourful characters, including a pair of Theresa May clones complete with face masks, Jamaicans who wanted nothing more than to see bobsleds become a new fossil fuel-free mode of transport and a pair of pious Irish nuns chanting about gender equality from the in-house jail.

"They got into the spirit of it all," Julie said.

As Pakistan, Alexandra Croft and Imogen McDonald rose to the difficult challenge of debating the widespread practice of child marriage, while Croatia pair Mikeely Kent and Tanya Nasti opposed a motion to combine all research necessary to establish a colony in Mars.

Macintyre's Russian duo Yash Appadoo and Timmy Matheson were adept at being thrown into jail, and Rachel McIntyre, Chloe Harris and Ellie-May Coss impressed with their striking Japanese costumes.

"Timmy presented himself as the nemesis, and was forever getting hoisted off to jail, with the other groups planting bombs on them," Macintyre High teacher Caroline Wilson said. She was pleased to see her students bond with the Warialda High teams.

Warialda's North Korean (Ben Perry and Alex Smith), Mexican (Louisa Gilmour and Rachel Coulton) and French (Savannah Hughes and Skye Parker Rose) teams made an impression, speaking on the legality of prostitution, reducing munitions trade and international standards for internet censorship.

Representing Yemen, Danthonia's Andreas Loewenthal, Jaeden Kleinsasser and Torey Decker debated the legitimacy of the death penalty and joined their Columbian classmates Silas Blough and Nathan Goodwin in opposing the ban of single use plastic bags. The Columbians also pushed for first world nations to help developing countries adopt zero emissions technology.

Alida Clement and Tracey Compy from Danthonia made a mark as passionate speakers for Afghanistan, with Alida named the Best Speaker of the event. Alida will now take part in the national competition in Canberra.