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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-11-17 Daily Xml
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SCHOOLIES FESTIVAL

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:06): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Consumer Affairs a question about the upcoming Schoolies Festival to be held at Victor Harbor.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: As members know, each year thousands of South Australian students visit Victor Harbor to celebrate the end of their high school studies. Over the years the popularity of Victor Harbor as a venue for school leavers has led to the event being professionally managed, and it is now known as the Schoolies Festival. The South Australian Schoolies Festival is a well managed event that has avoided many of the problems associated with similar events in other states.

As it is my son's, and indeed many students', first Schoolies Festival, can the minister advise the council about the comprehensive strategies that the government has put in place to make this year's Schoolies Festival as safe as possible for the young people participating?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (15:07): I thank the honourable member for his question, and understand his interest in this important issue. I hope I can reassure him and allay his anxiety about his son's attendance at his first Schoolies, and I also hope that his son has a wonderful experience.

Schoolies is a very important occasion where school leavers attend a final party, and it is an important way of relaxing and celebrating the end of one phase of their life and the commencement of a new one. Many, if not most, of them have worked hard—and I hope that Henry has worked hard; yes, apparently Henry has worked hard—and they deserve to relax and have some fun at this time. However, as with many of these events, there are potential concerns, but I believe the government has taken a number of steps to minimise those.

South Australia's Schoolies Festival, which is held at Victor Harbor each year, is envied by many other states as being a well managed event with many planned activities and support services in place. This year the Schoolies Festival will be held at Warland Reserve in Victor Harbor from Friday 20 November to Sunday 22 November, and I understand that approximately 10,000 young people are expected to attend, a testament to the event's enduring popularity. As members would be aware, excessive alcohol consumption can be an unfortunate feature of Schoolies celebrations. I am sure that most South Australians realise it is impossible to stop alcohol being present at events such as these, so the government's focus continues to be on the safety of participants.

The government's focus on safety at Schoolies is not something which takes place only during the festival; in fact, it began with 'Safety at Schoolies' seminars held for many year 12 students over recent months. The Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner provided funding assistance, and this resulted in 13 free 'Safety at Schoolies' seminars held for high risk public schools that would not normally be able to participate in a seminar if a cost were involved.

The seminars were conducted by Encounter Youth who are also the event managers for Schoolies 2009. The seminars gave real life examples and scenarios incorporating police and community expectations, promoted key health messages and challenged students to think about how they and their friends could celebrate safely.

As well as providing funding for the seminars, the Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner provided information material for the presenters on topics such as liquor licensing laws for minors, dry areas and public information points. Several staff from the office will also be attending the Schoolies Festival to reinforce the message from the seminars, and staff will also have an opportunity to talk to school leavers in a friendly, non-intimidating environment about responsible drinking, harm minimisation and looking after themselves and, most importantly, looking after their mates and keeping an eye out for their friends.

Staff will also discuss some of the social and medical harms associated with excessive drinking and will also hand out giveaways such as T-shirts and iPod holders carrying the federal government's 'don't lose your standards' message.

The government's 'safety at schoolies' strategy involves multiple agencies working together such as the Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner, SAPOL, Drug and Alcohol Services SA, the Department of Education and Children's Services, and SA Ambulance Service. Other significant measures to support the safety at schoolies strategy include:

The provision of entertainment involving live acts and big screen film events held at the central Warland Reserve location to provide safe activities that do not involve alcohol or drugs.

A dry area, larger than in previous years, road closures and speed restrictions.

The establishment of a liquor accord for schoolies between SAPOL, the Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner, and liquor licence holders. This accord is supported by the local liquor licence holders and is designed to prevent underage drinking and promote the responsible consumption of alcohol by legal drinkers. I am advised that earlier than normal closing times will support responsible drinking.

There will be increased police resources involving random drug and breath testing for drivers and a drug detection sniffer dog.

Mobile paramedics will patrol the Schoolies Festival on pushbikes and work in coordination with the South Coast District Hospital and the Southern Fleurieu Health Service.

A free barbecue at major accommodation sites to give students a good, filling meal and to provide agencies with an opportunity to spread the safety message.

Safe transport is critical, with thousands of young people needing to get to accommodation at the end of the festival. The RAA is sponsoring a free bus service from Adelaide to Victor Harbor and for the return journey at the end of the festival. I am advised that the Motor Accident Commission is also sponsoring free hourly shuttle buses from Warland Reserve in the heart of Victor Harbor to nearby coastal towns where students might have overnight accommodation.

The government has a responsibility to do what it can to maximise the safety of our young people at the Schoolies Festival, but its active role does not and should not diminish the critically important role of the parents and guardians of young people attending the festival. I would like to encourage parents and carers to discuss their children's plans and to encourage and support responsible and safe behaviour, particularly in relation to transport and accommodation plans.

I am sure that many of the 500 volunteers who have been coordinated by the event manager (Encounter Youth) are parents, and I commend them and all the volunteers for taking the time to keep an eye on our young people at this very important time in their lives.

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