Community Centre Week

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. J.S. Lee:

That this council—

1. Notes that Community Centre Week was celebrated in South Australia from Monday 9 May to Sunday 15 May 2022, coinciding with national Neighbourhood House Week;

2. Recognises the vital role that local community centres play in providing welcoming and inclusive spaces for social activities, support services, and personal development for people from all walks of life;

3. Acknowledges the contribution of all the staff and volunteers who are the heart of the 165 community centres located across South Australia;

4. Notes that this year's theme is 'Building resilience by bringing people together,' highlighting the importance of rebuilding strong social connections as we re-emerge from the isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; and

5. Commends the Marshall Liberal government on implementing the new Community Connections program to support socially isolated people to increase their independence and to build strong, sustainable social and community connections.

(Continued from 15 June 2022.)

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:48): National Neighbourhood House Week, which is called Community Centres Week in South Australia, was celebrated across the country from 9 May to 15 May. The theme of this year's celebration 'Building resilience by bringing people together' is a strong message that reminds us that, despite the challenges of COVID-19, we must strive to build the resilience and strength of our community.

Community centres started in South Australia in the 1970s when the women's movement sought to have a meaningful impact on social structures. This started with a meeting for a day or two each week to assist those in the community who felt isolated and lacked social connections. They were initially only run by volunteers and met in churches and halls.

Community centres have come a long way since that time but retain their important role in fostering social connection. They are friendly and informal places found all across South Australia and form the heart of many communities. They provide low-cost and free services and activities that reflect the needs of the area in which they are located and the people who use them. Community centre activities include activities for adults and children, workshops, health and fitness, IT classes, personal development, arts and crafts, amongst a host of other activities.

Everyone needs social connections to survive and thrive. People can find themselves spending more time alone as they age, if they have lower income or experience a range of barriers, from language to health or culture. In turn, one person's problem of isolation can turn into a problem for the community, as their health and wellbeing is negatively affected. Community centres are critical in our community's fight against isolation and our fight for a more inclusive society.

Of course, no community centre runs without the blood, sweat and tears of dedicated volunteers who run programs and devote their time and energy to this important work. The work of these volunteers does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. The Minister for Human Services in the other place has asked me to express her sincere appreciation for the work of all volunteers and staff of community centres across South Australia. They are the beating heart of communities, and they are the ones who stand up when their neighbours need them the most.

The last two years of COVID have left more people feeling isolated than ever before. We need community centres now more than ever. That is why the Minister for Human Services was so disappointed, upon coming to government, to discover a plan to reduce funding to community centres. I am also advised that there was a plan to reform the funding of community centres without proper consultation with the people who run them.

This followed other actions by the former Liberal government that saw $1 million in funding stripped from community centres when the Adult Community Education (ACE) program was stripped from them. In stark contrast to this approach, the new Labor Minister for Human Services put a stop to the recommissioning process, and DHS has spent the last few months working with stakeholders to deliver a better outcome for the future. We hope to announce the outcome of this process before the end of the year.

In further contrast, the new Labor Minister for Education, Training and Skills reversed the cruel cut to the ACE program and restored the $1 million that was cut by the Liberals. This funding helped community centres do critical work such as literacy programs. For these reasons, I have lodged an amendment in my name to remove the final paragraph of the motion that commends the former Liberal government. I do not think we should be politicising what should be a multiparty recognition of the value of community centres.

Of course, I could seek to amend the motion to condemn the former government for its cuts, or similar. I could even move an amendment to praise ourselves as the new government, but I do not want to politicise the recognition of the excellent work done by community centres. So I hope members of this council will support me in simply removing the paragraph and leaving it at that. The real judge of how we value and support community centres will be the communities they serve, and the Labor government is standing with them. I commend the motion. I move to amend the motion as follows:

Leave out paragraph 5.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:53): I did not intend to speak on this, but I do have an amendment that I wish to move to this motion. I move to amend paragraph 5 of the motion as follows:

Leave out the words 'Commends the Marshall Liberal government on implementing' and insert 'Acknowledges the purpose of'

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:54): I thank honourable members for making a contribution to this motion. I am sure the staff and volunteers working across the 170 fantastic community centres will appreciate the generous acknowledgment of their hard work and dedication to support our communities.

I want to thank the Hon. Frank Pangallo for making an amendment to acknowledge the new Community Connections program, to support socially isolated people to increase their independence and to build strong, sustainable social and community connections, being one of those that the Liberal opposition will accept. I urge members to consider the Hon. Frank Pangallo's amendment and I commend the motion.

To clarify, we will reject the amendment put by the Hon. Clare Scriven and accept the amendment moved by the Hon. Frank Pangallo to remove some of the words.

The council divided on the Hon. F. Pangallo's amendment:

Ayes 8

Noes 9

Majority 1

AYES

NOES

PAIRS

Amendment thus negatived.

The Hon. C.M. Scriven's amendment carried; motion as amended carried.