NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

Ms FOX (Bright) (14:35): My question is to the Minister for Volunteers. Can the minister share with the house the benefits of National Volunteers Week 2010?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:36): Can I start by congratulating the member for Bright on her appointment to the Deputy Speaker's role and you, Madam Speaker, on your elevation. I look forward to your firm but fair hand and your protection from time to time.

It is my great pleasure to be here today as the Minister for Volunteers, having launched National Volunteers Week on Monday. Volunteers Week will run from 10 to 16 May. What this means for South Australia is that we have a weeklong celebration and acknowledgement of the hard work that volunteers contribute to this fantastic state. It means, for instance, that we have 600,000 South Australians who provide about 1.4 million hours worth of work. We thank them here in the state government. What this means is an economic value of $5 billion. In 2002 it was estimated that our volunteers contribute about $5 billion in terms of economic value of volunteering.

The state government acknowledges that we can't do what we do alone. We need volunteers. We thank volunteers; we acknowledge what they do. Our theme this year for National Volunteers Week is 'Volunteering: Now, more than ever' and that recognises the difficult times that the community has gone through in our post-global financial crisis period. I encourage every member in this house to get out there amongst the community, thank our volunteers and have a good time.