Page 2688 - Week 09 - Thursday, 9 August 1990
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the service a young person receives. The Alliance Government has demonstrated its commitment by encouraging the community to participate in decision making and by fostering community advisory structures in line with the needs expressed by the Burdekin report.
I will shortly be announcing a ministerial youth advisory structure developed in close consultation with the community. I am confident that it will assist me and future Ministers responsible for youth affairs to acquit their responsibilities in a capable and informed fashion.
Mr Acting Speaker, it is time for this Assembly to demonstrate its commitment to our young people; time for this Assembly to state the principles by which it will serve them and their families; time for this Assembly to commit itself to a statement of policy for the development of youth services. (Extension of time granted) I call upon this Assembly to adopt the following goals for youth policies and programs: that youth policy, planning and programs assist young people and their families in their development of physical and emotional maturity; their transition from family life to independent living; their transition from the financial base of the family to financial independence; and to exercise their human rights as mature adults.
Mr Acting Speaker, I now wish to respond to a couple of points raised by other speakers: firstly, Mr Connolly endorsed the recommendation of the Alliance Government's Beyond the Burdekin Report that section 167 of the Children's Services Act be amended. I draw members' attention to the fact that amendments to that Act are listed in our legislative program. Further, Mr Acting Speaker, I comment on recommendation 21 paragraph 1 of the original Burdekin report; the Conflict Resolution Service remains funded and, in fact, we have advanced $40,000 during the supply period to keep the Conflict Resolution Service in operation. I foreshadow to members that I am examining the role of that service in the context of the Callaghan report on the future of the Youth Advocate's role. I am awaiting the outcome of recommendations from the Mental Health Review Committee established by my colleague Mr Humphries, and the outcome of other community discussions, to determine whether to develop a community advocate role which would embrace not only the alternative dispute resolution machinery that Mr Connolly refers to, but also the official visitors scheme proposal and the proposal to have a bail hostel.
I might add for the information of the Assembly that those particular recommendations in the Burdekin report were deferred pending the outcome of the Callaghan review of the welfare branch. That report has since come down and indicates and maintains that there should be a clear distinction between criminal and welfare issues in the Territory. I now believe that we are in a position in consultation to move ahead with those recommendations in line with a general move towards an enhanced advocacy role on behalf of youth, the mentally ill and others in society.
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