This is what happened in the seventh sitting week of the year, which was from Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 June.
House of Assembly (Lower House)
Mentions of ‘young people’: 20
number of times ‘youth’ was said: 3
Lucy Hood MP (Member for Adelaide, Labor) asked the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Hon. Chris Picton MP (Member for Kaurna, Labor) for an update on government initiatives to address vaping by young people. The Minister discussed the State Government’s new advocacy and education campaign launched last week on the harms of vaping across social media platforms.
The Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People’s report on the Inquiry into the application of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle in the removal and placement of Aboriginal children and young people, Holding onto Our Future was tabled by the Minister for Child Protection, Hon Katrine Hildyard (Member for Reynell, Labor).
The Minister thanked the Commissioner and her team for their work and said: “Our government will take the appropriate time to consider the recommendations from the report and respond accordingly. As the government finalises its response, it will consider how we can ensure Aboriginal people are empowered to advise how particular recommendations are progressed with the principle of Aboriginal-led decision-making firmly in our hearts, minds and actions. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with Commissioner Lawrie to advance positive change that improves the lives of Aboriginal children and their families.”
Legislative Council (Upper House)
Mentions of ‘young people’: 9
number of times ‘youth’ was said: 1
Hon Laura Henderson MLC (Liberal) discussed government action and inaction on child protection matters.
She said: “As lovely as a review is, and we do welcome the opportunity to identify ways in which the child protection system can be improved, they are merely a tick-box exercise if they do not ultimately lead to tangible outcomes, the perfect example being the review of the Children and Young People (Safety) Act. We sit eagerly and await any draft legislation from the review of the Children and Young People (Safety) Act. The final report for this review of the act was provided to the minister in February 2023. Acting President, you heard that right: 2023. The minister has been sitting on this report for over a year.”
