This is what happened in the fifth sitting week of the year, which was from Tuesday 30 April to Thursday 2 May.
House of Assembly (Lower House)
number of times ‘young people’ were mentioned: 32
number of times ‘youth’ was said: 6
Erin Thompson MP (Member for Davenport, Labor) and Nadia Clancy MP (Member for Elder, Labor) spoke to the Supply Bill - an annual piece of legislation that covers the money the Government allocates to the Public Service.
The Member for Davenport said: “We are particularly focusing on youth programs. It is something that the northern part of the City of Onkaparinga council area has not been able to deliver as well in the past. There is no youth centre in my patch and so young people, particularly teenagers, have been crying out for something else. We have a skate park and a couple of basketball courts, but this is something that they have been really crying out for. This will be a space where young people can come together and enjoy programs that will be delivered by the City of Onkaparinga and a safe place for them to come and meet and be mentored by others as well. I am really excited about that project, which we will be rolling out over the next six months, and I am looking forward to the day when I will get to bring along the Premier again, with the Mayor of the City of Onkaparinga, and open that fantastic new community centre for our community to enjoy.”
The Member for Elder said: “Another thing that I am really excited about with Tonsley is the technical college that will be built there in the very near future. I am really excited about the skills that will be provided to our young people as a great alternative to university.”Michael Brown MP (Member for Florey, Labor) spoke to a motion to accept the Public Works Committee report on the SAPol barracks relocation and commented on the road safety centre’s programs available to young people.
Premier Hon Peter Malinauskas MP (Labor) spoke on the recent National Cabinet meeting on gender-based violence.
He said: “The commonwealth will … deliver a range of new measures to tackle factors that exacerbate violence against women, such as violent online pornography and misogynistic content targeting children and young people. Such measures will include additional funding for the eSafety Commission to pilot age assurance technologies.”
Legislative Council (Upper House)
number of times ‘young people’ were mentioned: 31
number of times ‘youth’ was said: 27
Hon Rob Simms MLC (Greens) asked the Attorney-General (AG) Hon Kyam Maher MLC if he had read the two submissions made by the Guardian for Children and Young People on the Attorney-General Department’s youth justice ‘alternative diversion model’ discussion paper. He also asked the AG what assurances he could give to the young people quoted in the submissions.
The AG stated that the Government does not have a position, and the paper was intended to start looking at various models. In relation to whether he had read the Guardian’s submission, the AG stated that he has read a summary of all submissions that were made.
In a supplementary question, Simms asked if the Government would commit to publicly releasing the submissions made.
The AG said: “I am happy to have a look at it to see what we can do in relation to that”.Hon Rob Simms MLC mentioned the Anglicare Rental Affordability Snapshot, which reported there is not a property or a room in a shared house across Australia that is affordable for someone receiving Youth Allowance, and asked the Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Hon Andrea Michaels MP (via the AG) what action the Government will be taking on increasing rent prices and whether they will consider the Green’s call for a temporary rent freeze. The AG will refer the question to the Minister for response*.
*Members can’t ask questions of parliamentarians who sit in another house directly during Question Time, so they’ll ask it via a member of the subject’s party in their house.Hon Frank Pangallo MLC (SA Best) asked the Minister for Education Hon Blair Boyer MP (Labor), through the AG, about whether the Minister himself would approve if his children’s school ‘made a decision affecting [their] child’ without telling the Minister or his wife as well as questioning why his Department ‘override the rights of the child's parents’. The AG stated the question will be given to the Minister.
Hon Rob Simms MLC asked the AG, representing the Minister for Education Hon Blair Boyer MP about an article published in The Conversation by a lecturer at the University of Adelaide regarding young men’s behaviour towards female teachers and peers becoming more misogynistic. The AG stated the question will be given to the Minister.
Hon Sarah Game MLC (One Nation) introduced a motion that the Legislative Council recognise the evidence on improved public health and the health benefits of regulated nicotine vaping compared to cigarette smoking and acknowledge current policies have resulted in an increase in youth vaping. Game stated that vapes should not carry heavy penalties or increased restrictions and she urged the Government to review their approach. Debate was adjourned.
Hon Frank Pangallo MLC introduced a Bill that would amend the Bail Act 1985 (SA) and Summary Offences Act 1953 (SA). The Bill seeks to create an offence under the Summary Offences Act 1953 (SA) which would make ‘publish[ing] material to advertise involvement in an offence or the act or omission constituting the offence’ carry a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment.
The Bill would also insert a presumption against bail for any young person over the age of 14 years charged with using a motor vehicle without consent and residential and non-residential serious criminal trespassing when this is this principal alleged offence.
