❓ Dr. Walker questions the Minister for Community Services about social isolation and the potential of cannabis social clubs to address it. The Minister deflects on the cannabis issue, highlighting existing community support programs.
AnsweredQoN 904Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY —
CANNABIS SOCIAL CLUBS
904. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the minister representing the
Minister for Community Services:
I refer the minister to recent
longitudinal studies published as part of the Household, Income and Labour
Dynamics in Australia survey and widely publicised by the ABC that suggest that
Australians are having less social contact than ever before, and are also
reporting increasing rates of loneliness.
(1) Does the
minister share the concerns raised by her federal colleague Assistant Minister
for Competition, Charities and Treasury, Andrew Leigh, who suggested that
Australians have shrinking social circles, and risk ''becoming a nation
without friends''?
(2) What active steps and/or programs is the
Department of Communities taking to counter this worrying trend?
(3) Since many
western countries, including Spain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, have
allowed the formation of cannabis social clubs, will the department consider
that as one possible way in which social circles might be widened for Western Australians;
and, if not, why not?
CANNABIS SOCIAL CLUBS
904. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the minister representing the
Minister for Community Services:
I refer the minister to recent
longitudinal studies published as part of the Household, Income and Labour
Dynamics in Australia survey and widely publicised by the ABC that suggest that
Australians are having less social contact than ever before, and are also
reporting increasing rates of loneliness.
(1) Does the
minister share the concerns raised by her federal colleague Assistant Minister
for Competition, Charities and Treasury, Andrew Leigh, who suggested that
Australians have shrinking social circles, and risk ''becoming a nation
without friends''?
(2) What active steps and/or programs is the
Department of Communities taking to counter this worrying trend?
(3) Since many
western countries, including Spain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, have
allowed the formation of cannabis social clubs, will the department consider
that as one possible way in which social circles might be widened for Western Australians;
and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The Minister
for Community Services has suggested that question (1) is out of order under
standing order 105(1)(b) as it seeks an opinion.
(2) We all have a
role to play in engaging with and supporting family, friends, neighbours et cetera
who are lonely. Some of the initiatives supported by the state government
through the Department of Communities to strengthen community connectedness
include the following. It supports and funds Linkwest, the Western Australian
peak body for neighbourhood and community resource centres. The 146 centres
contribute to vibrant, inclusive and connected communities and anchor a range
of services that can be delivered locally.
The department also provides youth engagement grants and funding to support the
age- friendly communities social connectivity grants program. Community
garden grants assist with the planning, development and implementation of
community garden projects across Western Australia. There is funding and
administration of Cadets WA for more than 9 500 young people who participate in
over 190 cadet units throughout the state and involving around 1 100 volunteer
instructors. It also partners with the community services sector to develop
volunteer opportunities and encourage and assist people to become involved in volunteering, including delivering the WA
Volunteer Service Awards, and p roviding funding and grant programs and developing
resources to assist volunteering organisations. It also supports and funds men's
shed initiatives and projects.
(3) It is not a priority of the Cook Labor government
to modify the existing laws and penalties in place regarding cannabis
possession and use.
Hon SUE ELLERY :
I ask that business of the house be resumed.
Questions without Notice — Standing Orders —
Statement by President Statement
THE PRESIDENT (Hon Alanna Clohesy) 5.04 pm : Before I resume the
business of the house, I have two points to make. Firstly, I advise
members to consider the use of questions without notice of which no previous
notice has been provided and the impact they have on the system of questions
without notice and the fairness of that in relation to other members. Secondly,
I invite members to consider standing order 105 and the brevity of questions
and answers. I thank members. If they need advice, the Clerk is always
available.
The business of the house is
resumed.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The Minister
for Community Services has suggested that question (1) is out of order under
standing order 105(1)(b) as it seeks an opinion.
(2) We all have a
role to play in engaging with and supporting family, friends, neighbours et cetera
who are lonely. Some of the initiatives supported by the state government
through the Department of Communities to strengthen community connectedness
include the following. It supports and funds Linkwest, the Western Australian
peak body for neighbourhood and community resource centres. The 146 centres
contribute to vibrant, inclusive and connected communities and anchor a range
of services that can be delivered locally.
The department also provides youth engagement grants and funding to support the
age- friendly communities social connectivity grants program. Community
garden grants assist with the planning, development and implementation of
community garden projects across Western Australia. There is funding and
administration of Cadets WA for more than 9 500 young people who participate in
over 190 cadet units throughout the state and involving around 1 100 volunteer
instructors. It also partners with the community services sector to develop
volunteer opportunities and encourage and assist people to become involved in volunteering, including delivering the WA
Volunteer Service Awards, and p roviding funding and grant programs and developing
resources to assist volunteering organisations. It also supports and funds men's
shed initiatives and projects.
(3) It is not a priority of the Cook Labor government
to modify the existing laws and penalties in place regarding cannabis
possession and use.
Hon SUE ELLERY :
I ask that business of the house be resumed.
Questions without Notice — Standing Orders —
Statement by President Statement
THE PRESIDENT (Hon Alanna Clohesy) 5.04 pm : Before I resume the
business of the house, I have two points to make. Firstly, I advise
members to consider the use of questions without notice of which no previous
notice has been provided and the impact they have on the system of questions
without notice and the fairness of that in relation to other members. Secondly,
I invite members to consider standing order 105 and the brevity of questions
and answers. I thank members. If they need advice, the Clerk is always
available.
The business of the house is
resumed.
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