Ms Joanna Corcoran:

One thing relating to some of the legislation that has been enacted is that it has put pressure on the Traveller community when it comes to self-employment and so on. The issue is about making it accessible to continue working. Some of the legislation that has been brought in has made it impossible for Traveller people to continue working the way they were working. The issue is getting around the red tape needed to continue work. Sometimes it may be about previous workers who were already in a certain line of business providing support. It could be about going in and talking to them.

There could be literacy issues or it could be a matter of access to the Internet. It could be about computer literacy, gaining knowledge about filling in forms and so on. These could be among the barriers and could be addressed. Some of the requirements put in place around owning horses and trading and so on make it impossible for some people to continue their work. If a person already has a livelihood in a certain role, then every effort should be made to try to continue that and keep it going, because these people are willing to work and doing the best they can. The support needed can be given and is given in other areas. It should be given in this area as well.

Ownership of horses and end-of-vehicle-life regulation are relevant. There is also the question of sole trading and selling in markets. There are so many different examples. I do not know all of them and I will not make things up, but I could get back to the committee with information. The support available should be given to people from the Traveller community as well. It is about consideration for people who are already making a living in that area and the research getting done. If there is going to be a change, proper research needs to be done into how it affects everyone.

It is great to see the vans going around. It is a brilliant social enterprise and I cannot praise it enough. I can get back to the Senator with some of the information relating to the legislation.