Page 472 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
increasing costs of living and falling housing affordability. This assistance can continue well into young adulthood.
So there would be no reason why the ACT government in its parental role would not extend the same kinds of support to young people and young adults for whom it carries parental responsibility. This financial support also goes to the question of whether the government should charge interest on any loans made to a young person or young adult. The Greens’ amendments would prevent the government from doing so.
It is frequently the case that parents would loan money to their children and agree on a repayment program. It is also frequently the case that parents would not charge interest on those loans. Once again, there is no reason to expect that the government should have any different a parental role in this regard.
The second group of amendments that the Greens are proposing seeks to clarify and strengthen the information and items that must be kept by carers of children and young people. There are provisions that relate to the requirements both during and after placement. There are provisions relating to the arrangements for access that children and young people have to that information and those items as well as to protected information.
As I said in my in-principle speech, this information is vital to a young person as they transition through young adulthood to their future life as a well-adjusted adult. Sometimes it may need to be given with a level of care and counselling and with sensitivity for it can include information that is quite confronting. Nonetheless, this can be crucial for a young person to be able to resolve mistakes or reconcile injustices.
It may equally be important for the celebration of achievements which will serve to balance those negative aspects of their young lives. They are critical in that very important process of transition to adult life. These amendments add value to the services provided to children and young people in their formative years and provide the kind of foundation they need in their preparation for adulthood and in planning their future contribution in our community. With the exception of the issues that I have raised before in relation to the charter of rights, the Canberra Liberals are happy to support Ms Hunter’s amendments.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Community Services, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Women and Minister for Gaming and Racing) (10.48): I will speak briefly. We will be supporting Mrs Dunne’s amendment. The government considers Ms Hunter’s proposed amendment to be—it is not supported by government. We have clearly a charter of rights for children and young people and adults in care or previously in out-of-home care. Our charter of rights was launched in 2009 and it is certainly a clear statement of our government’s intent.
Young adults previously in out-of-home care have the same rights, entitlements and responsibilities as other adults in the ACT. The proposed amendments from Ms Hunter possibly extend the obligations of the ACT government and out-of-home
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video