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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-07-07 Daily Xml
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ONE AND ALL

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (15:26): The completion of the sail training vessel One and All in 1987 was the fulfilment of a long-term dream. A dedicated team of volunteers worked for many years to construct a purpose-built sail training vessel in South Australia that could operate youth development programs. The ship's keel was laid in 1982. Initial funding came from public subscriptions and a Community Employment Project Grant. In 1985, proceeds from the charter agreement with the First Fleet Re-Enactment Company, the South Australian government and corporate sponsors were used to complete the ship, assist with the cost to take part in the re-enactment and bring the ship home to operate in its key role of sail training for youth development.

The ship was commissioned on 5 April 1987. She sailed halfway around the world on her maiden voyage, joining the First Fleet Re-Enactment just outside of Rio de Janeiro. She returned to Australia with the fleet, arriving in South Australia on 1 April 1988. Since the One and All's return to South Australia in 1988, she has continuously fulfilled her purpose-built role, that of a sail training vessel for youth development programs.

The Sailing Ship Trust of South Australia (the trust) was formed on 20 September 1989 and incorporated on 27 October 1994. The trust was formed for the sole purpose of retaining the sail training vessel One and All for the people of the state of South Australia. The trust is the public custodian of the ship and ensures her maintenance and safe operation. In line with the initial intent of the ship, the trust predominantly runs the One and All as a sail training vessel for youth development programs.

I had the privilege of serving on the trust board for a number of years along with Chairman, Rod Lindquist. Prior to that, it was a former member of the other place the Hon. Martin Cameron. Other members were Scott MacKenzie, Harry Wierda, Alec Mathieson, Bob Dabrowski, Tess McGrath, Duncan Welch, Lisa Jesse, Graham Ingerson and Commander John Parkin. Indeed, the foundation president of the One and All, Sir James Hardy, said of this ship:

The reason for building One & All was to provide the community with a vessel for sail training and to provide a unique youth development program for South Australia. Working as a team on a ship under all conditions makes better people out of all of us and that can only have long term benefits for the rest of the community. The building of the One & All was a labour of love for all of us and the last twenty years has provided our youth with a unique environment from which to learn the skills of life.

During my term as a member of the trust board, I had the opportunity to sail on the One and All in the Sydney to Hobart race in 1994—a most enjoyable but terrifying experience. Nevertheless, the most important job of this ship has been for the youth of South Australia. The education department and other youth programs have joined with the use of this ship over decades now and, therefore, it made me very sad recently to hear that, as of last Friday 1 July 2011, all of the staff and the crew have been sacked, the government having taken over the control of the ship some years before (that is, the current government) to find that it had been in a financially impecunious state in its management. I do not know the detail of that. Very significant sums of money have been put in by the government in the last few years to maintain its survey qualifications and general maintenance. However, there seems to be a general acknowledgment by the government that something has gone wrong.

But its decision to sack the crew and to put out for tender on 5 July this week for its operation and management as a request for proposal invitation really is very concerning, because this also confirms to me that the government has abandoned its commitment to youth training programs in this state. The document that is now published on the website for the management tender includes:

...to establish a charter party agreement for a minimum term of five years.

It clearly states in the objectives:

...a primary objective is that it generate revenue sufficient to sustain the vessel's operation as a minimum and, if possible, return a financial benefit to the operator.

The government wants to make a profit out of a vessel that had been put together by volunteers with hard work and commitment to the youth of South Australia. The government now wants to try to make a profit out of it. It has already hopelessly failed with the Falie, which is now attached to a mooring at Port Adelaide—still—and falling into disrepair.

That was a disastrous venture. Now it wants to take over something and usurp what has been an admirable objective for the trust. I am very, very concerned about the future of this for South Australia, particularly the youth, and I ask: where is the Minister for Youth on this issue and what will she do about it?

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