This is what happened in the ninth sitting week of the year, the first sitting week back after winter break, which was held over Tuesday 27 to Thursday 29 August.
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 the issues themselves.
House of Assembly (Lower House)
Mentions of ‘young people’: 22
number of times ‘youth’ was said: 5
Ms Erin Thompson MP (Member for Davenport, Labor) spoke about updates in their electorate. The Member said: “One area that is missing at the Aberfoyle Community Centre right now is a space for our young people. Currently, there is no youth centre in my Davenport electorate, so I am very excited that this new space will accommodate the many young people who flow out of Aberfoyle Park High School every afternoon, and provide some fantastic programs for them to get involved in their local community.”
Ms Catherine Hutchesson MP (Member for Waite, Labor), spoke in support of the Statutes Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill and outlined the State Government’s $5 million investment in the Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service and ‘mental health workshops’ to support young people’s mental health. The Member said: “It is so important that we take that time because if we can support them when they are young, we are going to set them up to be the adults of the future, and we need to make sure that we are doing that as much as possible.”
Legislative Council (Upper House)
Mentions of ‘young people’: 8
number of times ‘youth’ was said: 6
During question time Hon Dennis Hood MLC (Liberal) asked the Attorney-General, Hon Kyam Maher MLC (Labor) if he had discussed Victoria’s recent change of position on intentions to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 with the leaders of the Victorian State Government. Hood explained that SA’s Police Commissioner has stated an alternative framework would be needed if the age was raised and questioned whether the SA State Government was considering such frameworks, and given public consultation ended in March, when the State Government will formalise its position.
The AG explained that the State Government is aware of the Victorian Government’s decision and re-stated that the State Government currently does not have a position but will continue to assess the evidence on, “whether a very strict criminal justice and more punitive response causes a society to be safer, or whether those early interventions in the therapeutic and family support sense make the community safer”.The Hon Rob Simms (Greens) moved a motion calling on the Government to recognise that public consultation on the discussion paper, Minimum age of criminal responsibility— alternative diversion model closed 24 March 2024 and to release the submissions to the consultation. Crossbench Members of the Legislative Council - Hon Connie Bonaros (SA Best) and Hon Sarah Game (One Nation) spoke in support of the motion. Government spokesperson Hon Reggie Martin MLC moved a motion to remove paragraph 4:
Calls on the Malinauskas government to publicly release the submissions to the consultation on alternative diversion models for raising the age of criminal responsibility
which was agreed to and the motion was then carried.Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Hon Nicola Centofanti MLC (Liberal) moved a motion seeking for the Council to censure the Minister for Child Protection and to call on her to resign from the portfolio due to, “failures in managing her portfolio in particular her failure to deliver the government's commitments for timely legislative reform of the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 to address identified systemic deficiencies”.
Members from the Opposition and Crossbench spoke to the motion. Hon Emily Bourke MLC (Labor) spoke on behalf of the Government, outlining the funding provided for child protection matters including funding to the Guardian for Children and Young People for the Visitors scheme. Bourke also spoke about current feedback being sought on a draft Children and Young People (Safety) Act reform bill. Debate on the motion was then adjourned.
