Loneliness

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. C. Bonaros:

That this council—

1. Acknowledges social connection is a fundamental human need.

2. Notes Australia's first State of the Nation Report 'Social Connection in Australia 2023' found almost one in three Australians feel lonely and more than one in six are experiencing severe loneliness, with young people and middle-aged people reporting the highest levels of loneliness.

3. Recognises loneliness is an important predictor of individual and population health.

4. Notes lack of social connection is:

(a) as dangerous as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day or drinking six alcoholic drinks a day;

(b) increases the risk of heart disease by 29 per cent;

(c) increases the risk of stroke by 32 per cent;

(d) increases the risk for anxiety and depression; and

(e) increases the risk of older adults developing dementia by 50 per cent;

5. Recognises the link between loneliness and population health outcomes in terms of suicide rates, disease management, public health costs, absenteeism and economic prosperity.

6. Acknowledges loneliness is an urgent public health issue requiring immediate and adequate attention.

7. Notes the United Kingdom appointed a dedicated Minister for Loneliness in 2018 followed by Japan in 2020.

8. Calls on the South Australian government to establish an inquiry to consider, report and make recommendations on:

(a) the prevalence and causes of loneliness within the South Australian community;

(b) the effectiveness of current programs to improve social connection;

(c) opportunities for increased investment in local community groups which bring people together;

(d) opportunities for the funding of new programs and initiatives to address loneliness;

(e) the development of a loneliness strategy to advance social connection;

(f) the creation of a ministerial portfolio for loneliness or the specific inclusion of loneliness under the ministerial portfolio for health and wellbeing or another existing portfolio; and

(g) any other relevant matters.

(Continued from 30 August 2023.)

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (22:47): I rise to speak in favour of the motion on behalf of the Greens. I welcome the honourable member's push for a ministry for loneliness. Indeed, this was a matter that the Greens championed in the lead-up to the 2022 state election. We challenged both of the major parties to join with other jurisdictions in supporting the creation of a ministry for loneliness and also developing a statewide loneliness action plan, so we certainly welcome the Hon. Connie Bonaros joining the Greens in that push.

It is fair to say that loneliness is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. We need a statewide strategy to address social isolation and loneliness, one that includes adequate funding for social infrastructure and services like health care, education, justice reinvestment, housing and transport. It is also important to note that since the onset of the pandemic, levels of life satisfaction have declined. Now more than ever is the time for government to be investing all they can in mental wellbeing, and creating a dedicated ministry for loneliness is an important way of us moving in that direction.

This is not a new concept. I know some people might dismiss it as a bit of a gimmick, but I do not think that is the case. Back in 2016, the United Kingdom set up a commission on loneliness followed by the appointment of the first ever minister for loneliness in 2018 to help develop cross-portfolio responses. Now that we live with the COVID-19 pandemic and many people in our community have changed the way that they interact, it is really important that we build a community that nurtures mental wellbeing by promoting participation, connection and inclusion and minimising loneliness and isolation. Really, we encourage both of the major parties to join with the Hon. Connie Bonaros and the Greens in making this a priority.

The Hon. S.L. GAME (22:49): I rise briefly to express my support to the honourable member's motion. I also want to record my support for a minister for loneliness. I think we have all in this place, if we interact with the community, understand that loneliness is affecting people of all ages—younger and older generations. One of the biggest things that we could do in society is reconnect people and help reduce the loneliness pandemic.

For myself as a single mum with three kids, I also have times of loneliness, but I imagine what life might be like if I did not have my children or they had grown up or I was not in the workplace, so certainly it is a major issue. I just want to repeat that the quality of your life is determined by the quality of your human relationships. I think that shows, in essence, the importance of a motion like this.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (22:51): I rise to support the motion put forward by the Hon. Connie Bonaros calling for an inquiry into loneliness and its impacts on South Australians. This motion addresses an issue that touches the lives of many in our community and has significant implications for public health, social cohesion and economic prosperity. As the State of the Nation Report 'Social Connection in Australia 2023' revealed, nearly one in three Australians feel lonely, and more than one in six are experiencing severe loneliness. This issue is particularly pronounced among young adults and middle-aged individuals, with almost one in four 18 to 24 year olds and one in five 45 to 54 year olds often or always feeling lonely. The implications of this are stark and warrant urgent attention.

Loneliness is more than just an emotional state. The opposition recognises it is a critical public health issue. Research demonstrates that loneliness can be as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or consuming six alcoholic drinks daily. I repeat: 15 cigarettes or six alcoholic drinks. It raises the risk of heart disease by 29 per cent, stroke by 32 per cent and dementia in older adults by an alarming 50 per cent.

Loneliness also contributes to heightened rates of anxiety and depression and disrupts sleep patterns. The physiological effects, including elevated cortisol levels and chronic inflammation, further exacerbate the risks of long-term health conditions. Addressing loneliness is not merely about fostering social connection; it is about saving lives and reducing the burden on our health system.

The economic cost of loneliness is equally compelling. Studies show a clear link between social disconnection and absenteeism, reduced workplace productivity and increased public health costs. Moreover, the emotional toll of loneliness undermines community cohesion and creates barriers to participation and opportunity.

In acknowledging the severity of this issue, it is worth noting that other nations have recognised loneliness as a national challenge. The United Kingdom appointed its first minister for loneliness in 2018, followed by Japan in 2020. Both have made significant strides in developing coordinated, whole-of-government approaches to combat loneliness and foster social connection.

This motion urges us to consider a similar strategy here in South Australia. The motion proposes several practical steps, including examining the prevalence and causes of loneliness in South Australia, evaluating the effectiveness of current programs, exploring opportunities for new initiatives and community investments, developing a cohesive loneliness strategy and considering the creation of a dedicated ministerial portfolio to addressing loneliness and incorporating it within existing portfolios.

Additionally, I wish to highlight the unique challenges faced by individuals in regional and remote areas. Isolation can be particularly acute in these communities, and we must ensure their needs are at the forefront of any strategy. Loneliness is not a new issue, but its prevalence and impacts have been exacerbated in recent years, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. We, the Liberal opposition, agree with the honourable member that now is the time to act.

By supporting this motion, we acknowledge the urgency of addressing loneliness and commit to fostering a South Australia where everyone can feel connected and valued. Let us seize this opportunity to lead with compassion and innovation. By doing so, we can improve the wellbeing of our citizens and build stronger, more resilient communities. I commend the motion to the chamber.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (22:55): I rise on behalf of the government to indicate that we will support this motion. I know the honourable member will be very excited about that. She has very well articulated the statistics surrounding the impact of loneliness, as have many other people in the chamber, so I will not go back over those statistics.

The Hon. R.A. Simms: Good idea.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: Don't say I am not a team player. While people may often associate loneliness with older people, it can impact people of any age, background or gender. In a world where there are more opportunities to be connected than ever before, too many people are missing out on the benefits of positive interactions with those around them.

As some would say, we have phantom engagements through social media, and that is engagement through thumbs up and thumbs down, and a love heart if it is a really good day. But this can be also linked to language or cultural barriers, or a lack of income to engage in social activities, limiting interactions with the community or even access to other services or events within the community.

I am a big believer in bringing the community together, as is this government. Since 2022, we have put in a significant amount of funding to boost the number of local community centres around South Australia, with an increase of more than 60 per cent in funding. More funding than ever has been provided to these centres. This funding has provided opportunities for social connection and to learn new skills at little to no cost to attendees.

When we were elected to government in 2022, we discovered a plan by the former Liberal government to reduce funding to community centres, at a time when many needed them most, just after the COVID pandemic. As we know, COVID had a huge impact on many people's wellbeing and connection, particularly with the increased isolation and mental ill health. Community centres are vital in bringing people together, combating loneliness, improving mental health, sharing culture and building skills, so I am proud that Labor brought these centres back and had a different approach to the former government.

This different approach is delivering a record investment of $49.5 million over nine years from 2023. We also announced that community centres will receive $1 million per year for Adult Community Education programs, often called ACE. This is enabling language, literacy and numeracy skills for people in our community, giving them the opportunity to engage.

At the other end of the spectrum, South Australia's Plan for Ageing Well 2020-2025 outlines meaningful connections as one of the three strategic priorities, with a vision to create a future where everyone has the opportunity, support and encouragement to maintain and develop meaningful connections.

We have seen these programs from both government and non-government agencies, that seek to bring together people of different generations, have a positive impact on our community. They help to bridge generational divides and foster knowledge and sharing from people who otherwise never have the opportunity to do so. We particularly see this with our multicultural communities or people who have come here without any other family members, not having uncles or aunties or grandparents and relationships with other people. These programs enable people to build those connections they otherwise would have missed out on.

The establishment of Preventive Health SA is another key priority in providing support for mental health and wellbeing and suicide prevention, and has been a proud government policy that we have delivered on. This is creating better health and wellbeing for our community. Preventive Health SA is also working in partnership with nine council areas across the state to create embedded wellbeing hubs. These hubs provide more opportunities to socialise and build connections with others in the community. We have seen a number of other policies delivered by the government in suicide prevention and in many other areas, and the examples that I have provided today have made sure that we are putting value on connecting people in our community.

South Australia is also leading the way in creating a more inclusive society through the Autism Strategy and the charter, with the very key values of building knowledge and understanding so that people can have belonging in our community. We also saw an initiative today, the Voice to Parliament, an incredible initiative that has been delivered by this government. The initiatives that I have mentioned today are all about bringing the community together and giving voice to people. These initiatives have helped open doors, hearts and minds across our diverse community to bring people together and combat loneliness and social isolation.

I note the honourable member has not called for the establishment of a parliamentary committee. The government has indicated its willingness to work with the mover on different options for an inquiry that could be conducted by a government agency or a body outside of government. As reflected in my earlier comments, any inquiry would be largely consistent with the government's actions over the past almost three years, as well as with a number of strategies and programs that have been put in place to continue this work into the future. Subject to the council's support—and it clearly looks like it is supportive—the government will be happy to continue those conversations over the summer break and determine the most appropriate approach to inquire into loneliness in South Australia.

The Hon. C. BONAROS (23:01): I start by thanking honourable members for their contributions this evening: the Hon. Robert Simms, the Hon. Sarah Game, the Hon. Nicola Centofanti and the Hon. Emily Bourke. I thank them all for their contributions. The motion, as we have heard, acknowledges loneliness as a serious public health issue with significant impacts on individuals and communities and all the impacts highlighted by MPs this evening.

It always strikes me that every person you have this conversation with—and we have just heard yet another take from the Hon. Ms Game in her contribution—and every time I speak to someone about this you do get a very different perspective on this issue because it is so far-reaching. But what is certain is the underlying health impacts and social impacts that loneliness can have. It highlights alarming statistics, as were reflected in the 2023 State of the Nation Report, and notes the link between loneliness and poor health outcomes, including its role in increasing risks for heart disease, stroke, mental illness, dementia and suicide.

It also draws attention to successful international examples such as the creation of dedicated ministerial roles in the UK and Japan. I would have liked us to be the first jurisdiction to go down this path. Since introducing this motion in this place, New South Wales has actually now beaten us to the punch; they are having an inquiry in New South Wales, but we are unique in many different ways to that jurisdiction and ought to be considering this through a South Australian lens.

I impress upon those listening that the reason why I did not call for a parliamentary inquiry is that I think it is important that we look at this issue holistically and consider the modelling and the economic impacts that this has on our society as well. The Productivity Commission serves a really important function in that respect and they can provide a different view and one that perhaps we would not have the skill, expertise or insight to be able to provide through this place to the same extent that they would. So if I can impress upon those listening, in terms of what the inquiry looks like, yes, that does remain to be seen, because we cannot direct the Productivity Commission and the government cannot direct the Productivity Commission to undertake this inquiry.

I think the will of this place should reflect that, and I wish to impress upon those individuals at the Productivity Commission that that is indeed the will of this parliament, that we would like that particular body to look at this issue. In the meantime, I look forward to—in fact, I hold the minister to—those further discussions over the summer break because I know that she shares our collective keen interest in tackling loneliness.

Whatever the mechanism for the inquiry, the commitment to investigating the causes and prevalence of loneliness, evaluating existing programs, exploring new strategies to foster social connection and improving wellbeing is, from every perspective, a positive outcome that can have profound impacts on our communities in more ways than any of us in this place can imagine. For that reason, and that reason alone, I think this is a worthy exercise for us to undertake. There is nothing in here forcing anyone to do anything, of course. We want the measures. We want to see what the modelling shows and what the benefits could be.

On that note, I do thank in particular, at this point, the Leader of the Opposition, who, right at the outset when I first introduced this motion, came to see me to say that she did support this motion. She also prompted me to ensure that we included regions specifically in the motion, which I was absolutely more than happy to do because, whilst they would have been incorporated anyway, it is nice to have that distinction articulated in the motion.

So with those words, my message to the Productivity Commission, on behalf of all of us, is: let's get cracking and let's have this inquiry. I thank all honourable members for their support. I thank the government for coming on board and supporting this most important inquiry. I thank us as a chamber for our unanimous support—Productivity Commission, I hope you are listening—for this call for an inquiry into loneliness.

Motion carried.