Hon. Sally Talbot questions the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs regarding the lack of a strategic policy for Aboriginal youth, suggesting that mapping existing activities is insufficient. The Minister defends the approach, highlighting the establishment of subcommittees focused on key areas.

AnsweredQoN 980Legislative Council
Asked
5 December 2013
Portfolio
Aboriginal Affairs

QuestionView source ↗

ABORIGINAL YOUTH — STRATEGIC POLICY
980. Hon SALLY TALBOT to
the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
I refer to the answer provided by the minister to question
without notice 772 on 31 October 2013 when the minister said that instead of
developing a strategic policy on Aboriginal youth, his department is ''mapping
existing government activities and enabling youth-designed solutions''.
(1) Can the
minister explain how ''mapping existing government activities''
can possibly replace the development of a strategic policy?
(2) In the
absence of a strategy, what is the Aboriginal affairs cabinet subcommittee
supposed to be delivering?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
(1)–(2)
The development of any good government response should include an environmental
scan of existing activities to reduce duplication. As referred in the answer
that I provided to question without notice 772, the Department of Aboriginal
Affairs is undertaking the mapping of existing government activities to enable
youth-designed solutions.
Hon Sally Talbot : That is because there are too many
services.
Hon PETER COLLIER : I am just giving the answer. Hon
Sally Talbot might not agree with it. I think it is much more effective.
The Aboriginal Affairs Coordinating
Committee, on instruction from the Aboriginal affairs cabinet subcommittee, has
established an education subcommittee to focus on early childhood engagement
and school attendance; a health and mental health subcommittee to focus on
measures for early and youth health intervention —
Hon
Sally Talbot interjected.
Hon
PETER COLLIER : Does the
member want the answer or not?
It has established a family support and children subcommittee
to focus on supporting the family unit, children and parenting. The work of
these subcommittees will align improvement of health, education and employment
outcomes and intervention points for Aboriginal youth.

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