House debates

Monday, 29 July 2019

Statements by Members

Cowper Electorate: Youth Employment

4:01 pm

Photo of Pat ConaghanPat Conaghan (Cowper, National Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Those of you who were in the chamber when I delivered my maiden speech will know that I am committed to delivering on jobs in my electorate and addressing our high youth suicide rate, particularly in Coffs Harbour, which has an unemployment rate of 20.3 per cent, a rate not seen outside outback Queensland. I'm working with local youth leaders and employers to put together a youth employment summit to brainstorm ideas and generate jobs for Coffs Harbour. Right now, Mission Australia is calling on 15- to 19-year-olds to participate in the national youth survey before it closes on 9 August. The youth survey attracted 28,000 responses last year. This year they aim for 30,000 responses. Once complete, the survey will tell us more about the issues that are important to the health, mental health and wellbeing of our nation's youth. This year, they're asking questions about bullying, disability and whether young people feel their voices are being heard on issues affecting them. Young people in New South Wales also said the biggest issues were alcohol, drugs, equity and discrimination. Almost half of them last year, 45.3 per cent, in New South Wales identified mental health as the top issue facing Australia. That was double the number who reported that in 2016. If we're going to make a difference in the young lives of our youth we need to know what matters to them. I urge members to encourage youth in their electorates to participate in the Mission Australia survey.