Wendy Askew (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Volunteers are the life blood of our communities, and, while that statement might sound like a cliche, everyone in this chamber knows this to be true. Being part of a volunteer organisation brings an electric energy that nothing else can match. Having volunteered in a variety of organisations for over 40 years I know there is nothing else like it. Today, I wish to highlight the importance of volunteering to my home state of Tasmania and why it desperately needs our support.

Tasmania thrives on its volunteer community. After recently visiting our major rural field day event Agfest, the power of the volunteer has never been more apparent. While the strength of volunteerism was on show throughout Agfest, the sad truth is volunteer rates in Tasmania and across the country are in decline. Volunteering Tasmania's latest State of volunteering report showed an 11 per cent decline in volunteer numbers since 2014.

Volunteers contribute $4 billion to the Tasmanian economy annually, with the average volunteer contributing 4½ hours per week. Without volunteers our iconic community-driven organisations suffer. The management team at Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden in Burnie, for example—which opened in 1981—recently announced that there were not enough volunteers for the upcoming spring and summer tourist seasons and it may have to close or operate at reduced hours.

We all lead busy lives with families, careers and other commitments which doesn't leave much room for volunteering. The impact of low volunteer levels places pressure on community organisations—(Time expired)