30 August 2024

Inquiry recommends appointing ACT Minister for Loneliness, free access to sporting facilities

| Oliver Jacques
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Michael Pettersson, MLA.

Michael Pettersson chaired the inquiry into loneliness and social isolation. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

Feeling lonely? You’re not alone.

A report released this week cites data indicating the ACT is the loneliest jurisdiction in Australia, with 40 per cent of the population meeting the criteria for being lonely.

The nine-month Legislative Assembly committee inquiry into loneliness and social isolation, chaired by Labor MLA Michael Pettersson, was tasked with looking into the prevalence and costs of Canberrans who lack friends, family, relationships and connections and to come up with policy solutions.

Its final report, which was tabled this week, has recommended the establishment of an ACT Minister for Loneliness and Social Isolation, providing people with free access to sporting facilities and introducing more public transport services.

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The inquiry found that certain groups are more likely to feel isolated than others, including young people aged between 18 and 29, carers, those in the LGBTQIA+ community and people with a disability.

Mental health research group Orygen said that the lonely were at greater risk of premature death and more likely to smoke, drink excessively and suffer from obesity. The committee, therefore, examined ways the government could help combat this.

Minister for Loneliness

In the UK, Conservative MP Tracey Crouch became the world’s first Loneliness Minister in 2018.

headshot of loneliness minister

The world’s first Minister for Loneliness Tracey Crouch. Photo: Wikipedia.

Advocacy body the Mental Health Community Coalition ACT (MHCC ACT) observed that Japan also has a designated minister for loneliness.

“MHCC ACT endorses this strategy, firstly to build governmental expertise and accountability in addressing the public health crisis we face. Secondly, we predict that providing visible leadership on this issue will itself lead to much-needed public education on loneliness,” the MHCC wrote in its submission.

“In light of the pronounced public health risks associated with loneliness, [we recommend] a new Ministry in the ACT responsible for tackling loneliness as a public health issue in the ACT.”

The committee agreed and adopted this proposal as its first recommendation.

Free access to sporting facilities

A number of submissions also suggested sport as a means of combating loneliness.

“Many people wish to engage in a sport or attend a gym but are unable to due to cost,” the Salvation Army stated.

The committee recognised this barrier and recommended that the ACT Government ensure that sporting facilities, as far as possible, be fee-free to access.

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More public transport

The ACT Youth Advisory Council highlighted inadequate public transport in the ACT as a barrier to social participation, calling for a “comprehensive review of the bus system”, including both stop locations and timetables, and said frequent services were needed on weekends for young people who often work or socialise at that time.

Relationships Australia cited data from Transport Canberra that showed only 3.6 per cent of trips use public transportation, arguing that people without access to a car are limited by the public transport options.

The committee recommended the ACT Government increase the frequency of services and offer free public transport on public holidays.

More details on the inquiry and a full list of recommendations can be found at the ACT Legislative Assembly.

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What a woke lode of crap. Just what we need more useless bureaucracy. Be funny.if this minister was the only one in the department. What an absolute waste of our money…again.

What an absolute joke this is, more taxpayers’ funds wasted on woke ideology. You can tell that Labor/Greens members of the ACT Government have never run a business or held a job in private enterprise otherwise they would have more respect for taxpayers’ money. No wonder our rates are going up and up. But it is hard to be sympathetic to the people of the ACT because they keep re-electing these clowns.

Canberra used to be one of the easiest places to make friends. What has changed?

How about a minister for cats and dogs to commission a study of companion animals for lonely people without a television

GrumpyGrandpa2:32 pm 30 Aug 24

I like this idea of a “Minister for Loneliness and Social Isolation”.

Now that the government has decriminalised my drugs, I’ll also be able to identify as lonely, get free access to the footy and cricket, plus travel for free on public transport.

Oh and just wondering; to help bridge my loneliness; any chance of throwing in a few beers, and maybe a pie?

I’ve just reread the article. Looks like the access to sport, is a participatory thing. You want me to compete in the sport or pump iron at a gym!

Where are the diversity options? Not everyone is young and athletic. I identify as a lonely, old guy who is physically challenged. I can no longer play footy, but watching for free, would certainly boost my spirits. 😊

Oh yeah, I’m still pretty keen on a few free beers, and a pie, if the taxpayer can spare a few quid.

Thanks Minister.

Scott Nofriends2:08 pm 30 Aug 24

So, the implication here is people that are lonely must be poor and money will solve loneliness?

My moniker might suggest that’s me but for the record, I’m doing ok and I’d rather enquiries like this be directed at issues like improving our health system and the current housing crisis.

“A report released this week cites data indicating the ACT is the loneliest jurisdiction in Australia”

Naturally.

No-one can deny that Canberra is the wokest city in Australia, or that woke is a revolution against the old – the old being very good at keeping people together.

For instance, the old placed an unmistakable emphasis on marriage, child bearing, family, extended family, local community and patriotism, and notice how woke has left not one of these untouched.

Last week we read that, despite Australia’s massive efforts to look after people’s feelings, people in the APS have never been unhappier. And today we see that because social circles are under attack, the first thing to go, of course, a sense of connection.

As someone I actually quite disagree with once more or less said (in a rare moment of lucidity), you can’t ignore reality for ever, and the longer you do, the harder you fall. This applies to woke in a big way.

Vasily, may I suggest that you go and research the true meaning of “Woke” because, it is practically the opposite of what you’re saying here. How can, caring for one’s fellow humans, helping those less fortunate, working for a fairer, caring world, be a bad thing? These a just some of the actual attributes of “Being Woke”, a label I’m very proud to wear.

Whenever I see the term “Woke” being used as a form of attack, it usually means that the person doesn’t know the true meaning because, today’s RW MSM use it as a negative, when it’s the exact opposite.

We see you have thoroughly thought this through.

This can’t be serious. Taxpayer money was wasted on an inuiry to loneliness?

Just make some friends. It’s not hard.

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