Ivan Dean, Speeches Index

Thursday 25 November 2010

YOUTH ON PATERSON YOUTH CENTRE

Mr DEAN (Windermere) - Madam President, it is not about foxes but it is a very important matter that I wish to raise today and that is in relation to Youth on Paterson . The Youth on Paterson youth centre has been operating in the Uniting Church in Paterson Street in Launceston for the past three years and it is the only centre currently in Launceston that is really working with youth at risk and turning youth around, and there are lots of examples of where that has happened. It has without doubt saved many youth from recidivism, from crime, antisocial behaviour and from ending up as inmates at Ashley or being returned to Ashley.

The reason I raise it now is that funding for the program ceased on 30 June 2010 and it is currently operating on a small surplus of left-over funds and without further funding, Youth on Paterson will have to close. An approach has been made to the Launceston City Council for some funding to carry Youth on Paterson over a critical period between now and January/February next year. There have been approaches made to the State Government. There have been approaches made to the Federal Government and the Federal Government were responsible for setting up this program in the first instance and with recurrent funding. That recurrent funding has run out at this stage.

Madam President, I cannot emphasise the point strongly enough that there is a need for this centre in Launceston to continue. As I have said, I can give a number of examples of youth who were destined to spend time at Ashley and obviously then move on to Risdon but were turned around by this centre. I have some correspondence from parents of three youths who say that if it had not been for Youth on Paterson , their sons would not be with them today; they would be either at Ashley or somewhere else. So it is a tragic situation.

Madam President, the point I want to make is that it is not the Launceston City Council's responsibility to fund this organisation. However, in desperation, the group have been to the council and the council, in my view, have acted very appropriately and provided $20 000 funding from the ratepayers of Launceston, who already contribute to the State taxation system, to tide it over for a period of time. A small amount of money has also been made available by the State Government through, I think, the education learning area that will prop up the $20 000 from the council to extend this program.

Madam President, this happened about three years ago, from memory, with Chance on Main, and the honourable member for Elwick would remember this very well.

Mr Wing - Probably more recently.

Mr DEAN - It think it was more recent than that, when the previous member for Elwick, the Honourable Terry Martin, continually raised that program here and it went through exactly the same process that Youth on Paterson is going through now. Unfortunately, the funding was not available there and Chance on Main closed, to the detriment of many youth in that area, I would suspect. It is just not acceptable, in my view, that we set these programs up, that they become very successful - and the proof is here; it is not just somebody saying it is successful but they cannot tell you where it is. Here they can tell you and show you where it is successful.

This is an appeal on behalf of Youth on Paterson for the kids in Launceston and in the northern part of the State who are doing it tough and who need support. The cost to run this organisation is about the comparable cost of detaining one youth at Ashley for a 12-month period. That is about the cost of running the Youth on Paterson centre.

Mr Wing - Much cheaper than keeping one in prison.

Mr DEAN - Much cheaper than keeping one in prison. So, Madam President, I appeal to the Government for this ongoing support and for the Federal Government to become involved as well. We do need this centre.

Return To Main Page.

Return To Speeches.