Page 4438 - Week 14 - Thursday, 28 November 2013
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People have indicated to us that they want more direct routes. They want routes that do not weave through the suburbs so much but in fact get them to their destination rather more quickly. There is a tension there in trying to straighten out those routes. Some people will still need to walk further. But the network has been designed to meet the transport for Canberra goal that 95 per cent of people will still be within walking distance of a bus stop. That is the goal that sits there, and my understanding is that the network achieves that goal.
There are some people who may have to walk further. We are looking at some of the enhanced community transport options, particularly for the older members of our community, to make sure that where particular gaps might exist we still provide a transport service. It may in fact be more efficient to provide a dedicated community transport model than to run a full ACTION bus network to target perhaps a household, a couple of households or a particular location.
Youth justice—blueprint
MR GENTLEMAN: My question is to the minister for children, youth and family support. Minister, the blueprint for youth justice in the ACT 2012-22 was released in August 2012. Can you provide the Assembly with an outline of the youth justice blueprint?
MS BURCH: The blueprint for youth justice in the ACT establishes a youth justice response and intervention continuum that creates lasting change in the lives of children, young people and their families and builds a safer community. The blueprint provides strategies that set the direction for the youth justice system in the ACT for the next 10 years. A three-year action plan has also been developed to give effect to the strategies in the initial period of the blueprint.
The strategies and actions identified in the blueprint are about finding better ways to support children, young people and their families who are vulnerable to or at risk of coming into contact with the youth justice system through their offending behaviour. The blueprint is also about supporting the children and young people who are already in contact with the youth justice system.
The blueprint sets the strategic direction for youth justice in the ACT. The 10-year strategy focuses on reducing youth crime by addressing the underlying causes of youth crime and promoting early intervention, prevention and diversion of young people away from the tertiary system. The blueprint is a whole-of-government and community initiative. Efforts and resources are directed toward early intervention and prevention, diversion, including restorative justice practices and only using detention for serious and repeat offending behaviour.
For young people who come into contact with youth justice, the focus is on rehabilitation and reconnection with families and community. National and international research tells us what works and what does not in getting children and young people back on track. While early intervention and prevention are very much guiding the direction for youth justice in the ACT—indeed, they are at the heart of the
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