Body Image Campaign

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:54): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question on the subject of the government's body image campaign.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: It was revealed in a previous question time that the minister was going to provide us with some information on the state government's election pledge to run a body image campaign with regard to young women and girls. In that response the minister indicated that this campaign would be based on an American campaign. It is my understanding that that American campaign in New York City had a budget of $300,000. The government of South Australia has committed $15,000. My question to the minister is: how does she expect a campaign that has been cut to 5 per cent of the original budget when implemented elsewhere will be effective in South Australia?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:55): Again it is disappointing not to see honourable members acknowledging positive agendas from the state government around working on body image—it is a positive initiative, and I have outlined very briefly what that initiative entails. The details have been worked up with workgroups, using young people, and I have spoken about that in this place.

I indicated that it was based on an American project. It is not the same project at all. I believe the project that the honourable member is possibly referring to is one for older children. I understand that it works on social media; I think it is Facebook or some application like that. We want to target groups of children younger than that, and that type of social media was deemed to be not appropriate for that age group so we have designed something that we believe is age-appropriate.

I have indicated that in terms of some details that I have taken on notice previously in this place—and I understand the Hon. Tammy Franks asked pretty much the same questions in the finance committee as well—a commitment was given to bring back a response, which I am pleased to do. But I am very proud to be part of a government that is prepared to get off its backside and work up projects in a very difficult budget climate, and yet we are still able to roll out new initiatives at a wide range of different levels. We have the body image campaign and we have a repeat offenders database that we are putting in place. We have a wide range of initiatives that we are rolling out, and I think this government should be congratulated on such an aggressive agenda to combat violence against women and children.