This is what happened in the 14th sitting week of 2024, which was held over Tuesday 12 to Wednesday 13 November.
Our parliament wrap-ups focus on discussion of young people, and issues that impact young people. We focus on what was said, and by who here, rather than unpacking or giving a position on the issues themselves.
During the 14th, and second last, sitting week in State Parliament for 2024 Members of the House of Representatives gave 2nd reading speeches on the Criminal Law Consolidation (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill. Several Members spoke to the importance of recognising young people are victim/survivors and perpetrators of domestic and intimate partner violence, as well as the prevention work by Multicultural Youth South Australia with culturally and linguistically diverse young people. The Motor Vehicle (Motor Driving Instructors and Authorised Examiners) Amendment Bill was also passed in this sitting week.
House of Assembly (Lower House)
Mentions of ‘young people’: 45
Children & Young People (Safety & Support) Amendment Bill - 10
Criminal Law Consolidation (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill - 6
Remembrance Day - 6
Children & Young People (Advocacy & Oversight) (Child Death & Serious Injury Review Committee) Amendment Bill - 9
Auditor-General’s annual report - 2
Employment and unemployment - 2
Social media regulation - 1
Summary Offences (Unlawful Selling of Knives) Amendment Bill - 1
Sports vouchers program - 1
Morialta community awards - 1
Australian of the Year - 1
Kapunda Community Gallery Exhibition - 1
Summary Offences (Section 20A) Amendment Bill - 1
Port Augusta declared public precinct - 1
Colton electorate - 1
mentions of ‘youth’: 15
Children & Young People (Safety & Support) Amendment Bill - 6
Summary Offences (High Risk Offenders) (Misc) Amendment Bill - 2
Summary Offences (Unlawful Selling of Knives) Amendment Bill - 1
Minister for Child Protection’s visit to New Zealand - 1
Criminal Law Consolidation (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill - 1
Australian of the Year - 1
Auditor General’s report - 1
Kapunda Community Gallery Exhibition - 1
Port Augusta declared public precinct - 1
Comments on young people, youth services and policy specifically about young people:
While talking about capital works expenditure of $8 million for youth justice by the Department of Human Services, Minister for Human Services Hon Nat Cook MP (Member for Hurtle Vale, Labor) outlined how the funding is providing improvements to the built environment to better care and support young people living with a disability, young neurodivergent people and those who need to rehabilitate. The Minister said:
‘The best experience is one that is given in an environment that offers that requisite support for young people to learn and to be able to trust the people they are with to help teach them behaviours and strategies that will ensure they are not returning to the custodial environment. For those who remain in the custodial environment for any given length of time, they should be subjected to the best possible environment to help support their behaviours and any disabilities or sensory issues that they might have. We have shown these environments publicly and they are very satisfying for us to be able to deliver.’
Debate on the Criminal Law Consolidation (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill continues with multiple Members discussing young people in relation to the Bill. Ms Olivia Savvas MP (Member for Newland, Labor) said:
’I really think this bill does some essential work. It is something that we should be considering not just in relation to the legislative framework but in relation to the way that we have conversations with people more generally, the things that we teach our children, the conversations that we have with young people in our lives. We need to talk about and be open about those conversations and what is considered healthy, what is unhealthy and what can continue to permeate through an individual's life and often lead to further instances of violence.’During debate of the Criminal Law Consolidation (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Hon Ms Zoe Bettison (Member for Ramsay, Labor) discussed the work of Multicultural Youth South Australia delivering the Community Circles program to educate young culturally and linguistically diverse women about coercive control. Bettison stated:
‘MYSA delivered 30 group sessions to 766 young women, the majority of whom were from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Led by facilitator and clinical psychologist, Dr Stacey McCallum, Community Circles provided an opportunity for the participants to play an active role in designing awareness-raising strategies to bring coercive control to the attention of young women in their communities. All workshops were delivered on weekends to provide a safe forum for young people to come together, learn about coercive control and identify the wider social, cultural and political conditions that give rise to and support the problem.’Leader of the Opposition Hon Vincent Tarzia MP asked the Premier, Hon Mr Peter Malinauskas, about South Australia recording the highest rate of underemployment* in mainland Australia and how the Premier would ensure the Government supported those struggling with the cost of living. The Premier responded by discussing the unemployment rate as an indicator of that state’s ‘strong labour market’ and spoke about the closed oil refinery at Port Stanvac being developed including 3,600 homes available in 2028. The Premier said:
‘These are the types of stable policy settings that are unlocking growth and unlocking more new homes for young South Australians. More young South Australians are choosing to stay in South Australia, because this is where the work is. We have a whole synergy coming together in ways that are welcome, and today's labour force data was yet another representation of that.’*ABS labour force data recently released shows the unemployment rate for 15-24 YOs in SA remained at 9.7% in Oct-24 after increasing from 8.0% in Aug-24.
Legislative Council (Upper House)
Mentions of ‘young people’: 12
Motor Vehicle (Motor Driving Instructors & Authorised Examiners) Amendment Bill - 5
Hospitality business closures - 2
Children & Young People (Safety & Support) Amendment Bill - 1
Lower Murray - 1
Education & Children’s Services (Reporting Requirements) Amendment Bill - 1
Livestock SA Young Leaders program - 1
Elections (Misc) Amendment Bill - 1
mentions of ‘youth’: 3
Elections (Accountability & Integrity) Amendment Bill - 2
Red Cross Australia - 1
Comments on young people, youth services and policy specifically about young people:
Debate continued on the Government’s Bill making changes to who runs license exams. Crossbench Member Hon Ms Connie Bonaros MLC (SA Best) spoke about a 2022 ICAC report on the reforms needed to ensure ethical conduct among drivers, making note that young people learning to drive are a vulnerable cohort.
In committee, Bonaros asked the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Hon Ms Clare Scriven MLC (Labor) to explain the Government’s position of costs associated with accessing driver training decreasing under the proposed scheme. The Minister advised that currently the average cost of a driving test is $300, which will reduce to $240 under the scheme. The Minister mentioned the ‘On the Right Track’ program in the Far North will continue to operate to assist young people in the APY lands obtain their licenses.
