House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-09-04 Daily Xml

Contents

Victim Support Service

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:27): My question is to the Premier. Has the government refused a plea for help from the Victim Support Service to save it from closing? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr TEAGUE: In a letter to its members and volunteers, Victim Support Service Chair Cecilia White writes:

We regret to inform you that Victim Support Services (VSS) will cease providing services from the end of September 2025…Recognising the gravity of these challenges, the Board initiated discussions with the Department of Social Services…and the Attorney General's Department…These talks have centred on exploring every possible avenue for sustainable service delivery.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:28): I am not familiar with the quotes to which the deputy leader referred but I am more than happy to get further information and make sure that, as best as possible, the deputy leader is furnished with that detail.

The Victim Support Service is an important organisation that has done work in South Australia for some time. If my memory is serving me correctly, the member for Badcoe has a close affinity with this organisation, having served on the board—

Ms Stinson: Yes.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —of the Victim Support Service for some time. I recall the strength of the member for Badcoe's contributions when the former government I think cut funding to the Victim Support Service in South Australia, funding that I believe we have restored. I welcome the new-found interest from those opposite in regard to a service that they so willingly cut funding to in a way that was unfortunate for people who relied upon those services.

I am very proud that this government restored funding to the organisation following the cuts implemented by the former Liberal government. Given that is the case, people who are associated with the Victim Support Service can rest assured that given the deputy leader's inquiries we will make some inquiries of our own as a government.