Page 2684 - Week 09 - Thursday, 9 August 1990
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MR JENSEN: That is correct. I think it is important to make sure that they are provided in college with an education that serves them, not so much for higher education but for participating in the community and participating in life. That is why, Mr Acting Speaker, it is important for the education programs that we run in the ACT to be maintained.
Let me move on to one factor that I know my colleague Mr Collaery is committed to. I am also aware that the previous Minister for Housing, Mrs Grassby, participated in this as well and encouraged it. This is the de-institutionalisation, if possible, of the services provided to those young people in need of care. They may need a little time-out or even some assistance in the building up of their self-esteem, a matter that Mr Stevenson pointed to in his discussion. It is very important to build up the self-esteem and the sense of worth of young people, because there is nothing worse than being given the impression that, "Forget it, you don't mean anything; it doesn't matter".
To this end, community groups have been assisted to obtain rented accommodation from the Housing Trust to provide a caring refuge for young people to gain the breathing space needed. As I have indicated, I acknowledge the support of the previous Minister in setting up this important program. I have recently had discussions with community groups in the Tuggeranong Valley with a view to the possibility of making similar arrangements out there. There is certainly a need out there, as there is in other parts of Canberra.
In closing, I would like to say that if anything can be learned from this discussion it is that we, as adults, must be prepared to listen to the views of the youth, particularly in relation to their needs for employment. We must listen to what they have to say and not ignore them.
MR COLLAERY (Attorney-General) (12.13), in reply: Firstly, I rise to thank most of the members for their gracious comments. In particular, I thank Mrs Grassby for most of her gracious comments - but not some of them - and Mr Connolly for his sensible and, of course, in the main acceptable comments in relation to youth and the law.
Mr Acting Speaker, on 2 May I tabled in the Assembly the Alliance Government's response to the report of the inquiry of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission into homeless children. Our response was entitled - with good reason - Beyond the Burdekin Report. I am pleased to say that reaction to the efforts of the Government has been favourable. On 8 June I attended the Social Welfare Ministers' Conference and made a progress report on the Government's action to assist homeless young people. In particular, I reported on the Alliance Government's administrative arrangements as they have a significant bearing on the ability of the Government and the community to respond to the needs of our young people.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .