Tea Tree Gully councillor Rob Unger brings motion to sever ties with Youth Affairs Council of SA

A northern suburbs councillor has called to sever ties with a leading youth organisation over its activity on social media.

Tea Tree Gully councillor Rob Unger. Picture: Matt Loxton

A northern suburbs councillor has brought a motion to sever ties with a leading youth organisation over “social media posts”, saying the group’s values did not align with council.

Tea Tree Gully councillor Rob Unger will urge the council to scrap its partnership with the Youth Affairs Council of SA (YACSA) at a meeting next Tuesday, urging the CEO to inform the organisation of a desire to “utilise existing Councils resources and networks to engage with youth at a local level”.

In his motion, Mr Unger called for the CEO to acknowledge an “observed disconnect from the objectives of YACSA, and Council, as demonstrated by a number of social media posts”.

YACSA describes itself as the peak body representing young people, youth sector organisations and networks in SA.

The City of Tea Tree Gully has engaged YACSA for a community consultation program to engage school students, sporting clubs, youth leaders, health providers, workers and carers for a report outlining how best to serve young people’s needs.

Consultation will run from July 10 to August 30, with an analysis report to be delivered before the end of September along with collected data.

Tea Tree Gully Mayor Marijka Ryan

Latest council data shows of the 16,622 young people aged between 12-25 in the LGA, 6.7 per cent were found to be unemployed and not studying.

The council’s current youth engagement scheme includes youth leadership and sponsorship programs, events and achievement awards.

Mr Unger’s motion does not give reason, aside from YACSA’s social media presence, for the “disconnect” from council objectives.

YACSA’s recent social media posts include recognition of NAIDOC week, anti-LGBTQIA+ discrimination, national Close the Gap Day and polling for the SA First Nations Voice to Parliament – but it is unclear which posts Mr Unger’s motion refers to.

There is no suggestion these posts have prompted Mr Unger’s motion.

Other posts include advertising for a civics Roundtable with federal Labor senator Karen Grogan and a breakdown of the recent state budget.

Mr Unger did not respond to a request for comment before deadline.

Tea Tree Gully Mayor Marijka Ryan said the council would refrain from commenting on the motion before it was brought before the council.