Aboriginal Power Cup

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (14:53): My question is to the Attorney-General. How is the government supporting programs that encourage the positive development of Indigenous youth?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for Consumer and Business Services, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:53): I thank the honourable member for Colton for his question. Mr Speaker, this is a matter about which I believe you may know something, and indeed may have been, in a former life, the original instigator of. The Aboriginal Power Cup was developed in response to recommendations in the 2007 report, 'To break the cycle: prevention and rehabilitation responses to serious repeat offending by young people'.

The Power Cup is a three-day football carnival that aligns with the AFL Indigenous Round. The Power Cup is an early intervention strategy that engages young people in sporting activities to encourage them to continue with their education and make positive lifestyle choices. In addition to the Power Cup Carnival, students complete a course which includes a focus on developing team skills, personal identity, exercise and nutrition, career, lifestyle, and Aboriginal culture. The ninth Power Cup was held in—

Mr KNOLL: Point of order, Mr Speaker: unfortunately, the minister has been gazumped by minister Maher in another place on 19 May, and everything he has said to date is from that press release.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Some facts are so notorious, they would be anywhere—

The SPEAKER: Well, the—

The Hon. J.R. RAU: —but I am very happy to move on in a different fashion now because I was very fortunate to be present the other day at the magnificent Adelaide Oval and there was a game on there. Unfortunately, the right team didn't triumph ultimately but, before the game, the young people who had been involved in the Power Cup had the great excitement of being able to go onto Adelaide Oval, and they were all displaying the jumpers that they had actually worked together to develop. There was great excitement in the whole arena, and it was a fantastic part of the Indigenous Round for the AFL. It was an absolutely great opportunity to be there and see these young people.

Some of them actually spoke to a few of us before and after their run around the stadium, and to say that these people were thrilled is an understatement. One of the great things about this—have you found any of this yet, member for Schubert?—is that what happens is that these young people are actually encouraged to participate in schooling and after that career pathways through their engagement with this program. Actually, this is better than reading it, isn't it? So what is happening is—

The SPEAKER: The minister will tone down his switch to vaudeville.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Anyway, what is happening to these young people was revealed by one young man who told me that he was—

Mr GARDNER: Point of order: ministers may present, according to standing order No. 98, material that is relevant to their responsibilities to the house.

The SPEAKER: He seemed to be asked about the Aboriginal Power Cup, which he rightly says I inaugurated, and he still seems to be on message.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I am on message, thank you, and I am glad we've stopped the clock because I have a lot more to say about this. Anyway, what happened was this: this young man who has presented to the group of people in the room was able to say to us that, even though his team had actually come first in the round, they didn't actually win, and the reason they didn't win was that a couple of people who were his teammates hadn't met their obligation to their teammates by attending school sufficiently. So the poor attendance of some of those students let the whole team down, even though in a purely football sense that team had been able to achieve great things or 'kick goals' as we say in the footy world.

The SPEAKER: The minister's time has, alas, expired. The member for Adelaide.

Mr Gardner: She had the call?

The SPEAKER: I've called her.