Elise Archer MP

The arrogance of the Green-Labor Government has been exposed again this week with Premier David Bartlett praising the fact that only one in four Tasmanian volunteer organisations has enough staff to function effectively.

“The State of Volunteering Report: Tasmania 2010” launched by Mr Bartlett saw 2500 Tasmanians take part in surveys and focus groups in order to try and develop clear strategies to increase the volunteering rate in Tasmania. Whilst it is admirable Volunteering Tasmania has produced the first report of its kind in Australia, Mr Bartlett in his address failed to mention that only one third of volunteering organisations in Tasmania increased the number of volunteer roles in the past two years, or that half of all people surveyed who had never volunteered before said they were unsure of what opportunities were available to do so.

Volunteer organisations in Tasmania are now faced with a number of unique challenges – volunteers are often forced to drive long distances at their own expense, while organisations that rely on volunteers are facing the combined impact of increasing demands for their services and a declining number of volunteers.

It would be far more appropriate for Mr Bartlett and his Green-Labor Government to stop gloating and develop a clear strategy to increase the volunteer rate in Tasmania, by actually working with organisations to help them invest and develop a volunteer management capacity into the future, to ensure these vital services are not left for dead.

Regards

Elise Archer MP
Shadow Minister for Community Development