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The Hon. JOHN RYAN: My question is to the Minister for Juvenile Justice, representing the Minister for Community Services. Has the Government failed to appoint a person to chair the Duke of Edinburgh Award committee, despite that position having been vacant for 12 months? When will the Government give the issue some priority? Has the Government responded to a proposal for shifting the secretariat for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards from the Department of Community Services to the Department of Sport and Recreation? If so, what action will the Government take?
The Hon. CARMEL TEBBUTT: I thank the Hon. John Ryan for the question. I will refer it to the Minister for Community Services because I am not aware whether the chair of the committee has been appointed, and I am certainly not aware whether there is a proposal to shift the secretariat from the Department of Community Services to Sport and Recreation. Obviously, I have some knowledge of the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme because that organisation does very good work in juvenile justice, to which I have referred on any number of occasions in this House. It is a very good scheme for young people in custody to participate in because it is quite structured and provides a combination of challenging recreational or outdoor types of activities, and an opportunity to learn discipline and develop an ability to make a contribution to the community. I am familiar with the scheme and how it operates within juvenile justice but I am not familiar with the issues mentioned by the Hon. John Ryan. I undertake to refer the question to the Minister for Community Services and obtain a response to those specific issues as soon as possible.