Nature Play SA

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:14): I seek leave to ask my very first question to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation about Nature Play SA.

Leave granted.

The PRESIDENT: Congratulations on your first question.

The Hon. T.T. NGO: Will the minister tell the chamber about the South Australian government's new initiative Nature Play SA?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:15): I thank the Hon. Mr Ngo for his very excellent question. He can ask another one any time he likes. There is a growing body of research that demonstrates that investing in development from an early age can offer substantial rewards and returns to both individuals and communities long into the future. I am pleased that this government is taking a very positive action in this respect. It was my great pleasure to officially launch an important new initiative, Nature Play SA, in recent months.

The PRESIDENT: I will just ask the cameras, I am as flexible as I can be, but you must have the cameras focused on the person on their feet.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: That would be me.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Thank you, the Hon. Mr Dawkins. I will start again. It was my great pleasure to officially launch an important new initiative, Nature Play SA, in recent months. The launch took place at a lecture given by Mr Richard Louv, an international expert on what he calls nature deficit disorder, hosted by the Australian Conservation Foundation and supported by the South Australian government. I acknowledge that my honourable colleague and shadow minister for environment, the Hon. Michelle Lensink, was in attendance, and she commented to me afterwards what an excellent speech I gave. I'm sure she did! I seem to recall that. If she did not give me such comments, she probably just overlooked it.

Nature Play SA is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that will assist parents and grandparents, schools and community groups to put a focus on outdoor play. I know that parents try to do their best for their kids and Nature Play is not about blaming anyone, certainly not parents, nor is it about denying young people the wonders of the modern age in technology that fascinates so many, but not me.

It is about helping us get back a balance of getting kids to experience, appreciate and respect the beautiful and natural environment we have in this state. Research has shown that the average South Australian child spends 4.5 hours a day in front of a screen and only two hours outside. The electronic age has brought with it amazing opportunities for our children, including the ability to be connected to the world instantaneously and experience state-of-the-art entertainment and enjoyment. However, the drawback is that more young people are spending too much time indoors. This new age has coincided with rising rates of childhood obesity, increased rates of depression and behavioural disorders amongst young people. Clearly something is not right and, while television, games and computers are not solely to blame, there can be no doubt that this increasingly sedentary lifestyle is having a lasting effect on our children.

Nature Play SA was inspired by the book Last Child in the Woods written by the prominent American journalist and author, Mr Richard Louv, a world leading commentator on the importance of nature play. Mr Louv argued that increasing urbanisation, less access to natural areas and the lure of screen time has resulted in a childhood that is increasingly spent indoors. This, he argues, has contributed to a wide range of health and behavioural problems. He has coined the term—and the Hon. Mr Wade reinforced it earlier—'nature deficit disorder' to describe this phenomenon. His research has shown that unstructured play outdoors in nature is essential to a child's physical, mental and emotional development. In his words, 'Time in nature is not leisure time, it is an essential investment in our children's health and also, by the way, in our own.'

Nature Play SA will be an important resource for all South Australians and will provide stimulus and ideas to encourage all of us to take advantage of the wealth of outdoor, and mainly free, activities at our doorstep. To help establish nature play, $2 million in funding from the state government has been provided, and I am pleased to advise that Mr Tim Jarvis AM has been appointed as the patron of Nature Play SA. Tim was named as the 2013 Australian Geographic Adventurer of the Year. He is a world renowned explorer, environmentalist and scientist, author, public speaker, sustainability advocate, and father of two boys aged five and two—a perfect role model to encourage children to go outdoors and play and explore.

Nature Play SA will also be supported by organisations from the environment, health, education, child development and recreation sectors. Nature Play is an exciting initiative and I am certain it will become a very valuable resource for our community.