Skye Kakoschke-Moore (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) the first Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs was appointed by the Fraser Government in 1978,

  (ii) subsequent Labor and Coalition Federal Governments have appointed Ministers with a portfolio concerned with youth, and the Howard Government had three different ministers who held the youth affairs portfolio,

  (iii) in 2013, the Abbott Government abolished the youth portfolio,

  (iv) in May 2014, the Government advised it was planning a "focused and targeted approach" to consult with young people, yet, this year is likely the last National Youth Week with no funding in the forward estimates – the Deloitte 2017 Millennial Survey suggests that young people struggle to engage with major political parties and not having a Youth Minister acts as a clear signal that engagement with young people is not a priority for this Government, and

  (v) Australia's youth unemployment and underemployment is an increasingly systemic concern – the current youth unemployment rate sits at 13.3 per cent, and the youth underemployment rate sits at 18.3 per cent; and

(b) calls on the Government to:

  (i) to appoint a Minister for Young People,

  (ii) ensure that this minister have a particular focus upon youth engagement, youth employment and transition to work, and

  (iii) ensure that this minister sit within the Cabinet.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government does not support this motion. Everything we do as a government is designed to deliver greater opportunities for young Australians. Every minister is focused on what they can do for young people. As detailed in the administrative arrangements, Minister Birmingham is the minister responsible for youth affairs as well as for education and training. Minister Cash, as the Minister for Employment, is focused squarely on addressing youth unemployment, including through the establishment of our Youth Jobs PaTH Program. With all ministers working for young people wherever possible, we believe we can deliver the best outcomes for young Australians.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The opposition will also not be supporting the motion. We do not believe that the crossbench should determine in motions the make-up of any future ministry. Nonetheless, we think the issue of youth unemployment and underemployment is an important one. Unfortunately, the Turnbull government has achieved yet another record, and yet again it is not one we should be proud of. Youth underemployment is at the highest it has been at any time in the 40 years since the ABS started to record it, reaching an appalling 18 per cent. There are now more than 650,000 young people who cannot find work or cannot find enough work, according to the Brotherhood of St Laurence report. This is on top of the rise in youth unemployment in February to 13.5 per cent. These are not good numbers for the country, and they are a damning indictment of Malcolm Turnbull's lack of leadership and policies.

Skye Kakoschke-Moore (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Skye Kakoschke-Moore (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is incredibly disappointing that the government and the opposition are opposing this motion. If the major parties are genuine about recognising the needs and aspirations of our youth then they should support the call for a minister for young people. Currently, young people feel like they are being spoken at, not with, about policies that have a direct bearing on their lives and their futures—policies in areas like housing affordability, education, employment, transport and health. With no minister responsible for advocating for young people at a cabinet level, we run the risk that the needs and views of our youth will continue to be an afterthought. Appointing a minister for young people will send a clear message that the parliament wants to engage with Australia's youth and that we take their needs seriously.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson-Young.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would just like to add the Greens support to this motion. I suspect the chattering amongst particularly the older members in this chamber just indicates how important it is to get proper youth representation on the benches of the government, as well as in the parliament.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hinch, were you also seeking leave?

Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do indeed, sir.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order, on both sides!

Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I support Senator Kakoschke-Moore with this motion. Young people deserve to have a minister, the same way that women have a minister. I think it should be done. I support you 100 per cent. I am also disappointed in the opposition and the government for sitting on their hands on this one.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion moved by Senator Kakoschke-Moore be agreed to.