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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-07-24 Daily Xml
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Grievance Debate

Volunteers

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:28): Today I rise to speak about the impact of the changes to the screening and the background check applications, particularly for volunteers here in South Australia, and the concern that the 2014-15 state budget is having on volunteers and the impact that it is going to have on attracting our young volunteers. Labor's announcement of a 33 per cent increase in these volunteer screening and background check charges, with the fees rising from between $41 and $55 to most volunteers, I think is outrageous.

We listened to ministers over the estimates period trying to justify it. We had one minister saying how volunteer numbers are increasing and another minister saying how it is harder to get volunteers and volunteer numbers are decreasing. I think we really need to look at exactly how volunteers are being impacted on by the current state budget.

Volunteering obviously is a vital part of South Australia, contributing to the economy in the vicinity of $5 billion. It has a particular interest to me, especially in the Riverland and Mallee, with thousands of volunteers generating community spirit and adding to the regional economy.

Mr Acting Speaker, albeit as noisy as it is around me and you are not listening, in the state government's Strategic Plan, a key measure is this target of maintaining a higher level of formal and informal volunteering in South Australia at 70 per cent participation rate or higher, and the progress rating is negative movement at the moment.

I received quite a touching letter from one of the volunteers from Riding for the Disabled SA. The letter was from a Riverland-based Riding for the Disabled service and there were concerns that these changes mean volunteers will now be forced to pay for police checks when volunteers have been provided these checks free of charge previously. The group has 22 volunteers over the age of 18, and 40 all up. The letter came from Jodie Pearn and she is a great advocate for Riding for the Disabled in the Riverland and, in part, it stated:

My name is Jodie Pearn and I am the president of the Riverland branch of Riding for the Disabled.

The letter goes on:

[Riding for the Disabled SA] provides a unique service to the state community. Riders benefit in many different ways, we have had amazing results within our centre with Autistic riders interacting with people without hesitation. Clients with Cerebral Palsy and other muscular complaints have experienced incredible results including free movement of limbs that are normally tight and contracted. RDASA run state events twice a year—Mounted Games in May and State Dressage in September, for a lot of riders across the state this is the only competitive sport they are able to compete in due to physical and mental limitations.

It is one of the few outs that these people have. It continues:

All of this is not possible without our volunteers, I know just at our centre we have people that are struggling financially and can't afford a $43 police check, this potentially closes centres (without volunteers we cannot operate).

This is just another example of the government looking a gift horse in the mouth, and the government putting the squeeze on our vital volunteer base. They are not valuing what volunteers do for South Australia. Riding for Disabled SA at Berri has worked hard to attract volunteers, but they are extremely concerned that they will now have to pay for that screening check.

Dr McFetridge interjecting:

Mr WHETSTONE: As the member for Morphett rightly says, it is a tax. These changes will have widespread impacts on many of the organisations and volunteers across the state. I call on the volunteers in my electorate and across South Australia: voice your concerns and dismay at this poor decision. Write to the Premier, write to the Treasurer, write to minister Bettison, the Minister for Volunteers, express your concern—

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey will refer to the minister by her portfolio and not her name.

Mr WHETSTONE: The Minister for Volunteers.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. The rule is there for a reason.

Mr WHETSTONE: —write to the Treasurer, write to the Minister for Volunteers, express your concern to take away the burden that volunteers are now being asked to pay.

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