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Young People


Child, Shadow

Rockliff Must Act on CCYP Report Findings

The Commissioner for Children and Young People report into Tasmania’s out-of-home care system is troubling, and its findings demand urgent action

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  15 Mar 2023


Preferential Voting, Ballot Paper

Electoral Amendment (Voting Age) Bill 2021

The Electoral Amendment (Voting Age) Bill 2021 amends the Electoral Act 2004 to allow for voluntary enrolment on the state roll for Tasmanians aged 16 and 17.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  10 Nov 2021


Protest, Climate Emergency

Old Parties Vote Down Greens’ Bill to Give Young People a Say

Tasmania had an opportunity to lead the nation in strengthening our democracy, by empowering more people to have a say at the ballot box. That was not to be.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  10 Nov 2021


Protest, Climate Emergency

Greens Move to Lower the Voting Age

Tabled today, the Electoral Amendment (Voting Age) Bill 2021, would provide those 16 year olds who want to participate in our democracy the chance to do so.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  25 Aug 2021


Four Young People Sitting on Ledge

Mental Health and Wellbeing – Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services

The CAMHS reforms are very welcome and we welcome the fact that they were all accepted. It's very important that they were.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Nov 2020


Wild Coast, Tasmania

Education – Young People and the Environment

The Mission Australia annual survey of young people found that the most important issue for young Tasmanians is the environment.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Nov 2020


Economy, Finance, Calculator, Pen and Graph

Payroll Tax Rebate (Apprentices, Trainees and Youth Employees) Amendment Bill 2020

These are necessary measures in a time of pandemic and economic contraction and deepening social costs as a result of those two factors.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  19 Nov 2020


Classroom, Students with Raised Hands

Government Must Invest in Speech Pathologists to Achieve 100% Literacy Target

The Government’s 100% functional literacy target is welcome, but will remain aspirational without investment in recruiting and retaining speech pathologists. 

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  1 Sep 2020


Four Young People Sitting on Ledge

Leaders Must Listen to Young People in COVID-19 Rebuild

The Greens welcome the Commissioner for Children and Young People’s 'Listening to Children and Young People in Tasmania Report 2019'.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  14 May 2020


Classroom, Students with Raised Hands

Principals Association Confirms Climate Anxiety in Primary Schools

The Australian Primary Principals Association has found nearly two thirds of schools say they have insufficient resources to deal with anxiety in students.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  25 Feb 2020


Four Young People Sitting on Ledge

Wellbeing of Young Tasmanians

The Commissioner for Children and Young People paints a mixed picture of Tasmania’s progress on the wellbeing of young Tasmanians.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  11 Feb 2020


Four Young People Sitting on Ledge

Commissioner Children and Young People Ambassador Program

I will take the opportunity to talk about the Commissioner Children and Young People's outstanding Ambassador Program.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  16 Oct 2019


Four Young People Sitting on Ledge

Real Youth Survival Report Demands Tripartisan Push to Raise Newstart and Youth Allowance

Young Tasmanians need a unity ticket across parties to get the Morrison Government to hear the case for an increase in Newstart and Youth Allowance.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  11 Oct 2019


Pills

Labor Backflip on Protecting Young Lives

The Labor Party’s decision to oppose Independent MLC, Ruth Forrest’s pill testing Motion makes it clear they’ve abandoned their party platform.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  13 Aug 2019


Pills

Courtney in Pill Testing Spotlight

Hobart City Council’s vote in support of pill testing puts new Health Minister, Sarah Courtney, in the spotlight.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  23 Jul 2019


Mental Health, Man on Couch

Estimates Reply - Minister Ferguson

Chair, I will reflect on some of the enlightening conversations I had with the minister in his capacity as the Minister for Health.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  12 Jun 2019


Mental Health, Man on Couch

Mental Health

We have a situation where young people and children are admitted in mental health distress into wards for adults.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  11 Jun 2019


Four Young People Sitting on Ledge

Child and Youth Mental Health

New beds will be progressively rolled out from 2020-21, including 10 new intensive care unit beds and a dedicated 16-bed adolescent unit.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  30 May 2019


Ambulance, Interior

Child and Youth Mental Health

60,000 Tasmanians live in mental health distress every year. They suffer financial distress and social and financial impacts on their families and communities.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  30 May 2019


Mental Health, Man on Couch

Budget 2019-20 - Mental Health Facilities

In 2015 Coroner Olivia McTaggart recommended a dedicated inpatient unit be built for young people who suffer mental illness or suicidality.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  30 May 2019


Four Young People Sitting on Ledge

Labor and Liberals Betray Young Tasmanians on Climate

In State Parliament today, both Labor and the Liberals voted against the Greens’ motion to declare a climate emergency.  

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  22 May 2019


Four Young People Sitting on Ledge

Youth Week

Rosalie Woodruff speaks during the Greens' Matter of Public Importance on Youth Week.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  11 Apr 2019


Four Young People Sitting on Ledge

Youth Week

Cassy O'Connor speaks during the Greens' Matter of Public Importance on Youth Week

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  11 Apr 2019


Legislation, Clause Being Highlighted

Gender Reform Laws Must be Debated Next Week

Tasmania’s Upper House has passed nation-leading legislation that will end entrenched bureaucratic discrimination against transgender people.  

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  5 Apr 2019


Gender Equality

Youth Speaking Out on Issues

There has been so much in the news over the past couple of weeks over the federal Liberal Party bullying attitude towards women in politics.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  19 Sep 2018


Four Young People Sitting on Ledge

Climate Leader's Conference

The students have been involved in creating projects that are all about making a difference for themselves, for the community and for the planet.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  18 Sep 2018


Lonely Child

At Risk Children and Young People Still Let Down

Tasmania’s under-resourced child protection system continues to let down at risk children and young people.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  31 Aug 2018


Lonely Child

Child Protection - Safe Pathways

Leaked departmental documents show the Minister misled parliament over the wellbeing of 11 children who had been placed with Safe Pathways last year.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  8 Aug 2017


Lonely Child

A Critical time for Tasmania's Children

Tasmania's child safety workers are at the absolute front line of protecting children from abuse and neglect.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  6 Sep 2017


Bureaucracy, Professional with Paperwork

Resignation of the Commissioner for Children

It is a sad day for Tasmania's children and young people with the sudden resignation of Commissioner, Mark Morrissey.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  3 Aug 2017


Four Young People Sitting on Ledge

Youth At Risk Strategy Undermined by 'Tough on Crime' Liberals

The Tasmanian Greens welcome the belated release of the government's Youth at Risk Strategy.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  7 Jun 2017


Money, Australian Dollars, Notes

Federal Budget Fails Tasmania

Tasmania missed out any substantial infrastructure investment as a result of the Hodgman Liberals' failure.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  10 May 2017


Lonely Child

Child Protection - Right to Information Requests

The Greens' Safe Pathways right to information request was lodged on 22 November last year. It is now two and a half months overdue.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  8 Mar 2017


Classroom, Students with Raised Hands

Rockliff Must Investigate Biddulph Gag

The Education Minister must immediately investigate the full circumstances which led to the attempted gag of Steve Biddulph.

Andrea Dawkins  |  Media Release  |  2 Mar 2017


Lonely Child

Commissioner for Children's Report Exposes Urgent Need for Funding

The report into Tasmania’s child protection and out of home care system by the Commissioner for Children and Young People demands urgent attention.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  31 Jan 2017


Lonely Child

Petrusma's Child Protection Crisis

In the past year, the average number of children waiting each day for a response from Child Protection has increased from 15.5 to 65.5.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  7 Dec 2016


Lonely Child

No Role for Profit Making in Child Protection

Chronic, systemic underfunding of child protection in Tasmania has laid the ground for businesses to profit from the abuse and neglect of children.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  16 Nov 2016


Four Young People Sitting on Ledge

Liberals Cave to Extreme Right on Safe Schools

At their State Council meeting today, the Tasmania Liberals passed a Motion to abolish the Safe Schools program.

Andrea Dawkins  |  Media Release  |  5 Nov 2016


Child, Shadow

Children and Family Violence

I thought I would take this opportunity, seeing these remarkable young women in the Chamber, to thank them so much for the work they do.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  20 Sep 2016


Four Young People Sitting on Ledge

Greens Release Costed Plan to Close Ashley

The evidence is clear that Ashley represents a failed model for youth justice.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  10 Sep 2016


Four Young People Sitting on Ledge

Ashley Review Builds Case for Closure

The Independent Review of Ashley Youth Detention Centre makes it clear the model for dealing with young offenders in Tasmania has failed.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  1 Sep 2016


Four Young People Sitting on Ledge

Ashley Youth Detention Centre

The Greens recognise that the Minister and her agency have taken this matter very seriously.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  19 Aug 2016


LGBTI Flags

LGBTI Issues: Ultimate Support for a Simple Life

I rise tonight to respond to parliamentary secretary Mr Barnett's adjournment speech last evening on Safe Schools and his continued attack on LGBTI issues.

Andrea Dawkins  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  1 Jun 2016


Pills

Hidding Won't Commit to Keeping Our Young People Safe

The evidence shows pill testing will keep our young people safe from harmful drugs and it has the support of the Police Association.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  1 Jun 2016


Mental Health, Man on Couch

Greens Alternative Budget Invests in Preventative Health

Instead of cutting the Health budget, and taking money out of emergency departments, the Greens would reinstate frontline health staff.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  31 May 2016


Four Young People Sitting on Ledge

My Education Website Poor Alternative to Pathway Planners

Students, parents and educators were shocked when the Government axed the highly effective pathway planners in 2014.

Andrea Dawkins  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  26 May 2016


Doctor with Patient

Government Action Needed on Young Smokers

Evidence smoking rates in young Tasmanians have risen by 6.7% in the last 3 years is very concerning.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  11 May 2016


Economy, Finance, Calculator, Pen and Graph

Federal Budget 2016: Premier Says Eslake, TasCOSS, Anglicare Are Wrong

Economist Saul Eslake agrees that Tuesday's budget contains little for Tasmania, and TASCOSS and Anglicare have given the federal budget a big thumbs down.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  5 May 2016