DEPARTMENT OF FURTHER EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, $291,559,000

Witness:

The Hon. P. Caica, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Youth, Minister for Gambling.

Departmental Advisers:

Mr B. Cunningham, Chief Executive, Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology.

Ms T. Downing, Director, Office for Youth.

Mr F. Ngui, Manager, Business, Office for Youth.

Ms G. Fairlamb, Manager, Policy, Office for Youth.

Ms S. Dawkins, Manager, Programs, Office for Youth.

The CHAIR: The estimates committees are a relatively informal procedure and, as such, there is no need to stand to ask or answer questions. The committee will determine an approximate time for the consideration of proposed payments to facilitate the changeover of departmental advisers. The minister and the lead speaker for the opposition have agreed on a timetable for today's proceedings and have provided the chair with a copy. Changes to the committee will be notified as they occur. Members should ensure that the chair is provided with a completed request to be discharged form. If the minister undertakes to supply information at a later date, it must be submitted to the committee secretary by no later than Friday 18 July.

I propose to allow both the minister and the lead speaker for the opposition to make opening statements of about 10 minutes each. There will be a flexible approach to giving the call for asking questions based on about three questions per member, alternating from each side. Supplementary questions will be the exception rather than the rule. A member who is not part of the committee may, at the discretion of the chair, ask a question. Questions must be based on lines of expenditure in the budget papers and must be identifiable and referenced. Members unable to complete their questions during the proceedings may submit them as questions on notice for inclusion on the assembly Notice Paper.

There is no formal facility for the tabling of documents before the committee. However, documents can be supplied to the chair for distribution to the committee. The incorporation of material in Hansard will be permitted on the same basis as applies in the house, that is, that it is purely statistical and limited to one page in length. All questions will be directed to the minister, not the minister's advisers. The minister may then refer questions to advisers for a response. I advise that, for the purposes of the committee, television coverage will be allowed from the northern and southern galleries.

I declare the proposed payments open for examination and refer members to the Budget Statement, in particular, pages 2.23 and 2.33, Appendix C, and the Portfolio Statement, Volume 3, pages 12.24 and 12.25. I call on the minister to introduce his advisers and make an opening statement if he wishes.

The Hon. P. CAICA: We have decided to dispense with an opening statement and questions from the government. We have allocated, by agreement, half an hour for this line of questioning.

Mr PISONI: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 4.24, Program 3: Performance Indicators. I note that several of the performance indicators have been designated redundant and, as such, no target is given. With the reduced sub-program format and redundant targets, the minister is becoming a small estimates examination target. Will the format for the next budget provide more expanded financial and project detail?

The Hon. P. CAICA: This is certainly not in any way designed to be a small target during estimates. We are consequently looking at assessing the programs that have been delivered over a period of time and also, importantly, at being able to design those programs in such a way, built on previous experiences, that we know that we are getting if not the best return then the best outcome from those programs. We expect that those gaps would be filled for the next budget round, based on the outcomes that we achieve during the delivery of those programs.

Mr PISONI: What stage are we at with respect to the progress of the evaluation?

The Hon. P. CAICA: We constantly evaluate the programs that are in place. That is important (and this is certainly not being disrespectful to the way in which any previous government has done things) because I believe that we need constant evaluation to see whether or not the programs that we are delivering in this and, indeed, other areas are achieving their desired outcomes.

One of the other things (about which we will be talking again this afternoon) is that quite often we implement programs, which often can be trial programs, to a great extent, and you are forever trialling. What we want to see at the end of the day is whether there are good programs and whether they have been effective. We want to see that they become enshrined within the youth portfolio and also what application they have across broader areas for implementation because of the results that have been achieved.

Our focus on youth participation, youth development and partnerships certainly will be aligning, quite rightly and importantly, the outcomes of those programs against the State Strategic Plan targets and also the strategic plan that links within the Office for Youth against our overarching State Strategic Plan. The honourable member would understand that we need the flexibility and the ability to be able to trial new things as we progress. I appreciate the fact that this is one of those areas where I think I have certainly enjoyed bipartisan support for the objectives that we are attempting to achieve with respect to the Office for Youth.

Mr PISONI: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 4.23, Program 3: Description and Objectives. Binge drinking is being blamed for many problems among young people, from violence to ongoing health problems. What is the state government doing to measure the increase, decrease or otherwise of binge drinking amongst our youth and also to address the issue of the number of young people who have serious alcohol-related problems, whether they be problems of addiction or perception of alcohol, and those who participate regularly in binge drinking?

The Hon. P. CAICA: One cannot pigeonhole specifically to this portfolio those issues that relate to the welfare and wellbeing of our younger population. A whole-of-government approach and, indeed, a whole-of-community approach is needed as to how these matters are most effectively addressed. From my specific agency's perspective, the Office for Youth is able to provide young people with advice and, indeed, if drugs and alcohol are involved, connect them with the relevant organisations and groups that help in relation to those issues.

Whilst this is an issue that could and should be best addressed in questions to my colleague the Minister for Health (Hon. John Hill), the simple fact is that it is, as I have said, a whole-of-government and whole-of-community responsibility. Falling within the health ambit, and within the Minister for Health's responsibilities, are drug and alcohol services that offer and provide a range of prevention treatment information, education and community-based services for all South Australians.

We work in partnership with health, mental health and—as the Office for Youth—other agencies in connection with young people across those agencies. In addition, my office has provided funding to YACSA to support its work in the youth sector, involving a range of issues, including the matter raised by the honourable member. During the 2008-09 financial year, a total of $281,960 will be provided to YACSA to support its continuing work.

Mr PISONI: Based on your answer, minister, are you able to disclose to the committee what advice you gave to other government departments on behalf of the Office for Youth in regards to the 3am closure of nightclubs in the city? What research did you do to come up with that advice?

The Hon. P. CAICA: Specifically, the role and function of the Office for Youth is to be that thread between various government departments, as I think I mentioned at last year's estimates hearings. Again, what we do to the best of our ability is provide to other departments access to information collated by my department on a range of issues. One of the programs undertaken across South Australia has been our youth consultation process. Again, that provides information to the Office for Youth on various issues affecting young people in South Australia, whether it be mental health, transport, education, or a variety of other issues. To that extent, we then become—and this probably is not the right word—a clearing house for that information through to other government departments to use and consider as that department sees fit.

On the specific matter of the potential closure of hotels and nightclubs, it is certainly only a part of the consultation process that has been undertaken with young people, and it is only part of the issue for those people. As I have said, our focus has been on a variety of issues, not the least of which is access to transport for young people to be able to get to their work and educational institutions.

Certainly, in the context of the closing of hotels, it is a very complex issue, and I do not suggest in any way that I have the answers to those particular issues. What might be seen by some as the indiscriminate or excessive use of drugs and alcohol in our community is something that needs to be approached from a whole-of-government and whole-of-community perspective, not from a specific agency's perspective.

Mr PISONI: Minister, I am just trying to establish whether your office did consult young people. Did you consult YACSA, in particular, about that? Did you put in a submission to the Attorney-General, or any other government body, about your recommendations regarding that situation?

The Hon. P. CAICA: From my Office for Youth perspective, we would comment upon any submission provided to cabinet by any agency or minister on issues relating to the potential uniform closures of clubs and pubs in South Australia. But I again reinforce the point that it does not fall within my ministerial responsibility: it is covered by other ministers (and I note that one of the members of the committee has been a member of cabinet). The responsibility lies with those ministers but, as agencies and departments, we still provide comment on a variety of matters raised in cabinet.

Mr PISONI: So, advice was given but you cannot tell us what that advice was. Is that what you are saying, minister?

The Hon. P. CAICA: What I said is that we would have, I expect, provided some comment rather than advice.

Mr PISONI: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 12.24, Program: 3, Performance Commentary:

promotion of a greater consideration of youth issues across government by undertaking youth specific collaboration with over half of South Australian government departments as part of consultations across the state with young people;

Minister, YACSA presented a budget submission, as it does every year, expanding on the areas of funding priority it has identified from its significant contact and consultation activities. The public response from YACSA expressed disappointment with the budget. In her comments, Jennifer Duncan from YACSA described the budget, as follows:

This Budget constitutes a lacklustre response to the needs of young people in South Australia. It has missed the mark for many young people. Although there are some positives—the allocation of $190 million to strengthen the child protection system is welcome and long overdue—many key areas have been overlooked. The investment of $11.5 million in crime prevention and rehabilitation supports for young offenders truly misses the mark. This money...fails to fund necessary, new initiatives in crime prevention and rehabilitation.

I am wondering, minister, whether you are either able to dispute those facts or agree with those comments from Jennifer Duncan.

The Hon. P. CAICA: I meet on a regular basis with Jennifer Duncan, and I think we have an extremely productive working relationship. She is a very good advocate on behalf of young people in South Australia.

I guess the point I would make from the outset is that, again, a lot of the issues Jennifer has focused on is in respect of her views. She is entitled to her views, as is everyone else, on a whole variety of issues, and I am not going to enter into any argument with Jennifer or you on this occasion. The money that is allocated through the budgetary process and, from a young person's perspective, is across various portfolios, and I am responsible for the management and discharge of the responsibilities that are assigned to the Office for Youth. So, when we are talking about crime prevention, transport or any of those particular issues, imbedded within those are matters that relate to access to those services by young people and not so young people. As I have said, I have developed a very good working relationship with Jennifer and YACSA and meet with her on a regular basis. However, I think your line of questioning from that budget line referred to how it relates to consultation with young South Australians. I am pleased to say that, over the past eight months, our office has conducted a series of statewide 'Tell it like it is' youth consultations with over 800 young people to ensure that their views are integrated into the regionalisation of South Australia's Strategic Plan and to identify priorities for the future.

It is certainly my view that, to respond effectively to issues affecting young people, we need to consider the various concerns affecting a young person such as employment, family relationships, health, housing and personal development, as well as interrelationships between these concerns, and no-one can tell us better than young people themselves what they want and what the need. The 'Tell it like it is' youth consultations will go a long way towards ensuring that young people are considered in future government business. I guess it harks back to the point made earlier that we will be able to collect and collate information that relates to circumstances that impact positively and negatively upon a young person's life and then feed that through to the various government departments as a concise and often forthright view that is held by young people that is gained through this consultation process.

We are also in the process of developing a new strategic youth framework for 2008-14 to replace the South Australian action plan that existed between 2005 and 2007. Again, that is in consultation with young people, community groups and government agencies. So, we liaise not just with young people but with community groups and government agencies in conducting statewide youth consultations in partnership, on this occasion with the Community Engagement Board. Again, that is to ensure that young people's views are considered as part of South Australia's Strategic Plan and to better inform that framework.

Mr PISONI: Does that cover issues such as housing stress, for example? Is that something that has been raised during this consultative program, and is your department working on any recommendations or suggested solutions?

The Hon. P. CAICA: Certainly, young people are not restricted in any way in their raising whatever they want at these consultations. We specifically try to frame these consultations around the State Strategic Plan targets, and that is an appropriate thing to do. Of course, that takes into account a variety of issues, not the least being those you mentioned, such as access and affordability of housing and education, and those issues related to those specific State Strategic Plan targets, and that is appropriate.

So, it is about our office working collaboratively with other departments, and it is about gaining the information that is available and gathered through that consultation process. For example, we worked with eight government agencies and 18 directorates within those agencies to frame the questions to ask the young people, based on the State Strategic Plan. As I also mentioned, those questions covered a variety of topics, such as employment, education, public transport, personal safety, health, voting and volunteering. In addition, we have been working with the University of Adelaide to analyse the results of those youth consultations, with the final report to be available in August 2008. Also, my Ministerial Youth Council is focusing on a variety of issues; and that council chooses for itself a variety of issues it believes ought be the focus of its deliberations over the forthcoming 12 months to three years.

The council is focusing on issues such as: mental health, particularly the health needs of young people from our merging communities; the future of the SACE; the lowering of the voting age; first aid in schools and the incidence of anaphylaxis; and our State Strategic Plan targets. This year the council is also focusing, in particular, on building the bridges between other youth advisory groups that exist within various government departments and community organisations, to make sure there is that cross-fertilisation, or pollination, between those groups.

I have been very pleased with and proud of the work being undertaken by the Ministerial Youth Council on building relationships with the youth advisory committees, which we all have within our electorates. A member of the Ministerial Youth Council attended the federal government's 2020 Youth Summit. Indeed, we are now undertaking a process whereby, of necessity, we will be replacing those people who have reached the retirement age (for want of a better term—it is a bit strange, talking about retirement in youth) and will be re-energising the Ministerial Youth Council.

So, it is about making sure that there are mechanisms by which collaboration and consultation occur and that the best possible information on issues that impact upon young people can be gathered and then disseminated through to the ministers and community groups concerned. We are working with the Department for Families and Communities on housing needs, particularly the new Foyer housing project, to ensure that young people are consulted on this development.

Here, I refer to work being done on Common Ground, for example, and whilst that is not my area of responsibility, certainly, from what I have been able to ascertain, there is more to homelessness than simply having a roof over your head. It relates to employment, and employment relates to transport and to educational opportunities. So, we need that integrated approach by which these issues, which the member has raised, can be best addressed.

Mr PISONI: Has the issue of antisocial behaviour orders been raised? Does the Department for Youth have a position on that?

The Hon. P. CAICA: Certainly, this matter has been considered among members of the Ministerial Youth Council in my discussions with YACSA. Again, I welcome their views on a whole variety of issues. It is not my responsibility to talk on behalf of YACSA or, indeed, on the views held individually and collectively by the Ministerial Youth Council, but certainly they have a position and have worked on developing a consensus in this regard.

The government has a position centrally on that, and, again, responsibility for that matter comes within the portfolio area of the Attorney-General. As with all other areas in question, we facilitate the consideration of views by the people concerned, and a matter can then be finally determined.

Mr PISONI: I move to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 12.24: Performance commentary, Premier's memorandum of understanding. I have been a very keen follower of the growing list of events, memorandums, awards and challenges featuring the Premier's title as a prefix; it is now running into dozens and has obviously been a great boost to the Premier's Memorandum on Youth Participation. As there seem to be some more agency signatories since last year's 41 in the budget, can the Minister say how many have now signed up?

The Hon. P. CAICA: As I do not have that specific information in front of me, I will take that question on notice and get back to the committee on this matter.

Mr PISONI: I can understand that it is difficult to keep up because we have the Premier's Climate Change Council, the Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize, the Premier's Be Active Challenge, the Active8 Premier's Youth Challenge, the Premier's Business Awards and Volunteering, the Premier's High Level Drought Task Force and, of course, the Channel 9 Young Achiever of the Year is now called the Premier's Young Achiever of the Year.

The CHAIR: I invite the minister to respond to the level of comment in that question.

The Hon. P. CAICA: I thank the honourable member for his particular question here, perhaps more so than for his comments. The point to be made here is that the process by which we operate is one that provides a certain hook, if you like, to get young people in. Despite what it is that you might feel about the Premier's Reading Challenge, or whatever it might be, they are all outstanding programs.

If, by having the Premier lead those particular programs through the naming of them they are given greater status, then it is a worthwhile exercise. I am sure that in your area you have seen an outstanding result with respect to young people undertaking the Premier's Reading Challenge, and if this mechanism provides a greater attraction for young people to be engaged, then I think it is a very good idea. If one day it is called the David Pisoni Reaching Challenge, for example, because that is a mechanism by which people may be attracted to become involved, then I would support that as well. So, it is the way by which you engage and attract.

In the time that I have been speaking I have been provided with that information, so I will not need to get back to you on notice. The Premier's Memorandum on Youth Participation outlines good practice principles to guide signatory agencies as they aim to get young people involved in the decision-making processes, and as at 30 June 2008 (today) 61 agencies were signatories to the memorandum. In 2007-08, a total of $600 was spent implementing the memorandum.

I would reinforce the point that, if it provides a level of gravitas or status to youth participation that is able to attract people, I am happy for that to occur and I think we should all be happy for that to occur, because it is about engagement.

The CHAIR: We agreed to go for half an hour. We will open up gambling.

The Hon. P. CAICA: I understood, sir—and I am quite happy to be corrected—that, because the committee needed to break at a certain time for morning tea, we would stick to that particular program.

The CHAIR: I was under a misunderstanding.

The Hon. P. CAICA: I will need to go and get my folder, anyway.

The CHAIR: That's fine; we will leave it as it is.

Mr PISONI: So we are breaking now and coming back at 12 for gambling. Is that what the minister is saying?

The Hon. P. CAICA: Half an hour; that's right.

The CHAIR: That's fine.

Mr PISONI: You can go and have your cigarette, and then we will come back.

The CHAIR: Order! Member for Unley, that is just uncalled for.

Mr PISONI: Is it? Smoking? I know it is.

The CHAIR: You are testing my patience, member for Unley.

The Hon. P. CAICA: I also believe that we told the advisers to arrive at what was the appointed time.

Membership:

Mr Goldsworthy substituted for Mr Griffiths.

Mr Piccolo substituted for Ms Breuer.