Youth Week

Ms LINDA BURNEY (Canterbury—Minister for Fair Trading, Minister for Youth, and Minister for Volunteering) [3.25 p.m.]: We have heard much about youth violence this week. We have seen examples of young people displaying false bravado who think it is okay to injure people, to damage property and to treat the police with contempt. These are young people who do not fear prison, who brag on websites and who show no remorse. I know every member will join me in condemning this week's violence. This is not the society we want for our children and us.

In my role as Minister for Youth it is important that I make this statement. Both the offenders and most of the victims of Monday's attack were teenagers. Coming after recent publicity about teenage binge drinking, this incident unfortunately portrays young people in a bad light. Let us not forget that the great majority of young people are fine, law-abiding citizens. In the same week that that violent incident occurred, we also saw an incredible act of bravery. I acknowledge Brock Curtis, a young man from the North Coast who paddled through the surf to rescue his best mate after a shark attack. Despite seeing a dark shadow in the water, he still went to his friend and pulled him to shore. That is courage and a truly human response that demonstrates young people at their best. Tragically, his mate Peter Edmonds passed away. Our hearts go out to his friends and family.

It is relevant to talk about these things this week because it is Youth Week, which is now in its twentieth year. In my role as Minister for Youth I have met hundreds of young people and have been truly inspired. Young people are excelling in sport, the arts and education. They are getting on with the challenges of adolescence and finding their way forward in the world. I admire their resilience and perseverance, and the fresh perspective that they offer. As lawmakers we must be mindful of the pace of change and how it affects young people. Today's teenagers have grown up in a world where global technology dominates communication and where the threats they face are global—terrorism and climate change to mention two. We should listen to and learn from them.

I share some of the things that I have learnt as Minister for Youth. Young people want relationships with their peers and families and they want to belong, to participate and to contribute to the decisions that affect them. We know that young people who have strong connections to their families, friends and communities have a greater sense of responsibility, are more likely to have better school results and to enjoy a longer life. A great example of this was a very special event I attended at Bankstown last weekend: a game of bocce that brought together different generations and nationalities. It was one of hundreds of events and activities organised by local councils and young people for Youth Week. In closing, I encourage members, businesses, organisations, parents—indeed, everyone in our community—to do their bit to ensure children and young people have a sound foundation from which to meet life's challenges and to reach their full potential.

Mr Brad Hazzard: I seek the indulgence of the House to allow two members of the Opposition to speak on this matter. The Minister for Youth raised broad issues relating to young people, but she also raised the terrible tragedy that occurred at Ballina. The member for Ballina would also like to make a contribution.

Leave granted.

Mr MIKE BAIRD (Manly) [3.28 p.m.], by leave: I acknowledge what the Minister has said about the violence that occurred this week. Although that was nothing to be proud of, the youth of this State have much to be proud of. It would remiss of me not to point out a significant event that occurred this week. I refer to the release of the report of the first national inquiry into youth homelessness since the Burdekin report more than 20 years ago. Since that time the number of homeless teenagers has doubled. There are 22,000 homeless young people between the ages of 12 and 18, and 36,000 under the age of 25. If members want a graphic picture of the scale of homelessness in this country, that number would fill the Sydney Football Stadium.

In my local community, those at the Manly Community Centre look at me with tears in their eyes. Day in and day out they are turning people away because they have no beds for them. By 12 o'clock they are sending people away. Jacqui from the Manly Community Centre has told me that a young girl at the centre wears a hood because she can get a bed in a men's refuge but not in a woman's refuge. Other kids in the community are not included in those statistics because they sleep on couches and they go from home to home, often for reasons involving sex and drugs, and they are not included. We have a crisis.

This week we call for two things. The report has given us a roadmap, but 20 years ago we had a similar report and nothing happened. We call on the Iemma Government to do something, and that is to listen to what that report says by calling a summit. There should be a call to arms. Ten very significant points are made in that report, and we should establish a summit to make sure the same things do not happen again. The State budget allocated $6.8 million to youth mental health over the next four years—that is it—in a $40 billion budget. It must be prioritised, and I believe a youth summit on mental health and homelessness could help us to determine where the funds should be directed and, most importantly, ensure that we never have a report like this again.

Mr DONALD PAGE (Ballina) [3.30 p.m.], by leave: I thank the House for granting me leave to make a brief statement. The Minister for Fair Trading has mentioned the shark attack resulting in the death of Peter Edmonds and the courageous actions of his mate Brock Curtis. I join with the Minister, the Government and all members of the House, in extending our sympathy to the Edmonds family at the untimely death of Peter Edmonds following the shark attack at Lighthouse Beach at Ballina at around 8.15 a.m. two mornings ago. Peter Edmonds leaves behind his parents, Lisa and Neil, and two sisters, Kylie and Shelley. We extend our condolences to the Edmonds family and to Peter's friends.

Peter was a year 11 student at Alstonville High School, and he was a very popular boy. Our thoughts also go to his school friends at Alstonville High School who are devastated by their sudden and violent loss. Peter Edmonds' best mate was Brock Curtis. Brock's actions in trying to save his mate were courageous indeed. It had started to rain prior to the shark attack and Brock had left the surf to put his clothes under a rock when the attack occurred. When he returned he saw his mate lying face down in the water surrounded by blood and what is believed to have been a bull shark. Without regard to his own safety Brock Curtis dived back into the surf and dragged his mate to shore. He called 000 and then administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation before calling the Coast Guard. Unfortunately, the wounds to Peter's legs caused a massive loss of blood and Peter passed away on the beach. I am sure members would agree that Brock Curtis's actions were heroic, given that the shark was still in the bloodied water near his mate when he re-entered the water.

The family, the local school community and his many friends are still in shock over Peter Edmonds untimely death at the age of 16. The tragedy is magnified when we are told that the boys had only decided to go for a surf because school was not commencing until 11 o'clock due to industrial action. Prior to yesterday's tragedy the last shark attack in New South Wales waters that resulted in a person's death was at Byron Bay—also in my electorate—in 1993. On that occasion a couple were honeymooning and they went scuba diving at Julian Rocks. A white pointer came towards the female diver but her husband put himself between his new wife and the shark, only to be eaten by the shark. His wife survived. Again, on behalf of The Nationals and the Liberal Party, Independent members and all members, I express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Peter Edmonds.

The SPEAKER: On behalf of the House I offer our condolences to Peter's family and friends in these very difficult circumstances.