Page 5449 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 8 December 2009
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In the transitions and pathways priority area, the plan aims to develop the CIT vocational college to provide customised student support, introduce work experience and career advice. In the environment and sustainability priority area, a key action is the sustainable transport action plan, delivering free smartcards to school and tertiary students by the end of 2010.
These are only just five of the 166 actions that this government will be taking in partnership with the community. I look forward to reporting annually on the progress of this plan in the Assembly.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, a supplementary question?
MR HARGREAVES: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Could the minister please indicate how the government consulted with young people on the development of the plan and whether you consulted with the Assembly’s mascot young person?
MS BURCH: Thank you for the question. Indeed, I think it is within the age group of the member you are referring to. Yes, we did indeed consult with the young people of Canberra. I think the young people of Canberra would agree that we listened to Canberra’s young people. We consulted widely with our youth to develop the young people’s plan. This included surveys distributed to young people through ACT schools, colleges, universities, youth services and at the national youth week—432 people from the ages of eight to 28 responded to these surveys.
It is interesting to note that the most important issue for young people was the environment, followed by alcohol and drugs and health and wellbeing. In June and July, 10 forums were also held to engage young people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, cultures and abilities. Their feedback was used to identify any gaps in service delivery. The responses we received through these consultations were reflected in the plan’s priorities.
This government has also been listening to the youth sector, to the people who work with youth on the ground. We released a draft version of the plan in August and we received eight submissions. Some of the things that we have heard through the consultative process have been linked in to the plan. So I am pleased to say that we incorporated many of the recommendations in the submissions in the final plan.
MRS DUNNE: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, a supplementary.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, you still have not answered the question: when did you first read the report and have you launched other reports or statements without having read them first?
Mr Hargreaves: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. That was not my question. That was one from Mr Coe and the supplementary has been and gone. The question I asked in fact was: what does it do? It was about the people. That is out of order.
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