If you’re new here, this year we’ve been providing a wrap-up of each sitting week in SA 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 fourth sitting week of the year, which was from Tuesday 9 April to Thursday 11 April.
House of Assembly (Lower House)
number of times ‘young people’ were mentioned: 10
number of times ‘youth’ was said: 6
Jack Batty MP (Liberal) spoke about Burnside Citizenship Awards and acknowledged SA Youth Forum and the young people who received awards.
Vincent Tarzia MP (Liberal) spoke on wages growth and the economic challenges facing residents of his electorate Hartley.
Tarzia said: “In a nutshell, this government is failing young people when it comes to them trying to get onto the housing ladder. They are failing young people when it comes to wages. Despite having a low unemployment rate at the moment, there is still a lot of room for improvement in the local economy when it comes to helping South Australians to get ahead.”
Tim Whetstone MP (Liberal Member for Chaffey) and John Gardner MP (Liberal, Member for Morialta) asked the Minister for Education, Hon Blair Boyer MP (Labor), a series of questions regarding a sexual health and relationships session delivered at Renmark High School that was in the media.
Boyer said: “Mistakes were made, and policies and procedures that are in place for a very important reason were not followed… There are a number of things we are seeking to do to make sure this can't happen again. The presentation in this case was conducted by a group called Focus One Health, the regional provider of respectful relationships sessions. They are subcontracted by Headspace who do a lot of this work nationally. I understand that it was Focus One who sought the services of the person who gave this inappropriate presentation. Focus One Health have been suspended at this stage.I understand that in particular some parents of those students and the students themselves have made it very clear that they felt traumatised by what they were exposed to in that presentation, and I think for that reason the offer of counselling is a very important one. I have been told that that has been made on numerous occasions. I do not have any information at this stage for the Member for Chaffey about what the uptake of that has been like, but we will make sure that those offers are continually made.
Investigation continues into exactly what took place and how we got to a stage where someone who should not have been giving a presentation like this was not only giving the presentation but was giving it with an absence of any staff members there, and in the absence of parental approval being given as well.
I am happy to update both the member for Morialta and this house once I have a clearer picture of why that wasn't done.”
Eddie Hughes MP (Labor) asked the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, Hon Katrine Hildyard MP (Labor), about spending on participation in regional areas. The Minister stated that the Government aim to increase the number of young people in regional areas eligible for the sports vouchers program as well as updated the House on the work of the Connected and Active Communities Program.
Private Members Bill - Criminal Consolidation (Sexual Predation Offences) Amendment Bill was adjourned at second reading. The Bill seeks to amend several Acts to address sexual predation in social, romantic or organised interactions increase the penalties that apply in circumstances were a substance has been administered. Increased penalties would be highest where a victim is under 17 or 14 years of age.
Legislative Council (Upper House)
number of times ‘young people’ were mentioned:8
number of times ‘youth’ was said: 4
Hon Ben Hood MLC (Liberal) asked the Attorney-General (AG), Hon Kyam Maher MLC (Labor), about young people engaging with SAPol and the sentences these young people receive. The AG outlined the Government’s Bill to make ‘recruiting children to commit crimes’ an offence and the current MACR discussion paper.
He said: “There is further work to do I think in terms of children who find themselves in contact with the criminal justice system. One of the things we are doing at the moment as a government is a discussion paper that we have released that is looking at other ways we can intervene in children's lives. A criminal justice response may not always be the best way. We are looking at therapeutic interventions, particularly family supports, for young people to try to stop the very young children who find themselves in contact with the criminal justice system becoming the older children and then the young adults who find their way into the criminal justice system. It is an issue that we are taking seriously and looking at addressing.”
Hon Frank Pangallo MLC (SA Best) asked the AG about whether the Government planned to appoint an independent medical expert to review gender affirming care practices.
The AG stated that health professionals will continue to develop policies based on diverse views and a range of evidence.Hon Sarah Game MLC (One Nation) asked the Minister for Health, Hon Chris Picton MP (Labor), through the AG*, about the effectiveness of the Government’s vaping policies and whether they have considered allowing regulated vape products to be sold. The AG will report back from the Minister for Health.
*When a Member wants to ask a question of another Member who sits in a different House they will ask it via another Member of their party because they cannot ask it directly.Hon Reggie Martin MLC (Labor) moved a motion to recognise the Zonta Club of Adelaide including its Zonta Young Women’s Leadership Program as well as scholarships and awards offered to young women.
Government Bill – Criminal law Consolidation (Recruiting Children to Commit Crime) Amendment Bill was adjourned at second reading.
