Paul Neville (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Fraser Coast’s much admired youth mentoring school and student support program, the Triple S program, sponsored by the neighbourhood centre, was scaled down in April and closed in June because neither the state nor the federal Labor governments would fund its ongoing operations. In contrast, the coalition pledged, on election to government, $600,000 to the program, recognising the great work it does in supporting challenged youth to stay involved in education. Sadly, my Labor opponent at the election refused to match this commitment, leaving the Triple S program in a parlous state. Labor does not recognise its value, despite its keeping kids connected with their education—something which is fundamentally a responsibility of government.

At least 500 students have taken part in the program since it began in 2007, a quarter of them Indigenous, while 188 volunteer mentors have been trained to help the students. Since the program started, Hervey Bay’s crime rate amongst eight- to 12-year-olds has dropped dramatically. The Triple S program enjoys strong community support and I urge the Attorney-General and the government to consider reinstating this valuable program for disadvantaged youth if indeed we want to have an education revolution.