If you’re new here, this year we’re going to be providing a wrap-up of each sitting week in South Australian Parliament. We’ll be pointing out motions, debates and comments you might have missed to keep you informed about what’s being discussed in both houses! This is what happened in the third sitting week of the year, but you can check out our wrap-ups of week one and week two as well.
Legislative Council (Upper House)
number of times ‘young people’ were mentioned: 6
number of times ‘youth’ was said: 2
During Question Time, Hon Sarah Game MLC asked Hon Claire Scriven MLC (on behalf of the Minister for Child Protection) about funding provided for children and young people in state-based care. She had two questions:
1. “Why is the Malinauskas Government only investing 9.1% of its child protection budget on family support services compared with Victoria which invests 26.7% of its budget on family support services?”
2. “Will the Malinauskas Government now consider matching the amount spent in other states?”
The Child Protection Minister’s response included information about how the Independent Inquiry into Foster and Kinship Care was conducted and explained increases to carer payments that began in January which includes a 4.8 per cent increase in indexation for all family-based carers and a $50 per fortnight increase per child 16 years and under for general foster and kinship carers, as well as an additional $800 each year for respite-like supports, for eligible carers.
House of Assembly (Lower House)
number of times ‘young people’ were mentioned:12
number of times ‘youth’ was said: 1
During Question Time, Dana Wortley MP asked Hon Nat Cook MP, Minister for Human Services for an update on community support to Murray Bridge and the Murraylands. The Minister discussed the support including the opening of the Studio Purpose Youth Apartments in Murray Bridge.
She said: “Last week, also, I had the pleasure of attending the opening of the Studio Purpose youth apartments in Murray Bridge. It is the second project where Habitat for Humanity has led the construction phase of the project, overseen by ac.care. The project converted two public housing duplexes into four units that are suitable for young people. This addresses a critical need in the region. Donors, builders, material suppliers, tradespeople and businesses, along with volunteers, all combined their efforts to complete the construction phase of this second Studio Purpose housing project.”The Child Sex Offenders Registration (Child-Related Work) Amendment Bill was read a second time.
Intervention Orders (Prevention of Abuse) (Section 31 Offences) Amendment Bill passed third reading.
