❓ Question on Notice regarding the Minister for Indigenous Affairs' responsibility for departmental failings related to child abuse, given her extensive experience in the area. The Minister deflects blame and highlights the government's efforts in reform.
AnsweredQoN 512Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS - RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEPARTMENTAL FAILINGS
Nineteen years ago, when the minister was the director of the women’s interests division within the then Ministry of the Premier and Cabinet, she was part of a child sexual abuse task force. As the current Minister for Indigenous Affairs and former Minister for Community Development, she is well aware of the problem of child abuse within both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. Given that she has 20 years’ experience in this area, why has she refused to take any responsibility for the consequences of the systemic failings that have occurred within departments she has overseen? Ms S.M. McHALE
Nineteen years ago, when the minister was the director of the women’s interests division within the then Ministry of the Premier and Cabinet, she was part of a child sexual abuse task force. As the current Minister for Indigenous Affairs and former Minister for Community Development, she is well aware of the problem of child abuse within both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. Given that she has 20 years’ experience in this area, why has she refused to take any responsibility for the consequences of the systemic failings that have occurred within departments she has overseen? Ms S.M. McHALE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Carine for her question and her obvious understanding. My department and, indeed, the department of which I was formerly a minister and the government have worked tirelessly to reform the work that we do in the community on abuse, particularly on the abuse of Aboriginal children. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member! Ms S.M. McHALE : When most governments would not have put the effort into this area, this government did. I and members on this side of the house recognise that work, and we recognise that this is a very difficult area, but our record of reform, change and improvement stands as a testament to what the government is doing. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: I thank the member for Carine for her question and her obvious understanding. My department and, indeed, the department of which I was formerly a minister and the government have worked tirelessly to reform the work that we do in the community on abuse, particularly on the abuse of Aboriginal children. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member! Ms S.M. McHALE : When most governments would not have put the effort into this area, this government did. I and members on this side of the house recognise that work, and we recognise that this is a very difficult area, but our record of reform, change and improvement stands as a testament to what the government is doing. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
I thank the member for Carine for her question and her obvious understanding. My department and, indeed, the department of which I was formerly a minister and the government have worked tirelessly to reform the work that we do in the community on abuse, particularly on the abuse of Aboriginal children. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member! Ms S.M. McHALE : When most governments would not have put the effort into this area, this government did. I and members on this side of the house recognise that work, and we recognise that this is a very difficult area, but our record of reform, change and improvement stands as a testament to what the government is doing. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member! Ms S.M. McHALE : When most governments would not have put the effort into this area, this government did. I and members on this side of the house recognise that work, and we recognise that this is a very difficult area, but our record of reform, change and improvement stands as a testament to what the government is doing. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order, member! Ms S.M. McHALE : When most governments would not have put the effort into this area, this government did. I and members on this side of the house recognise that work, and we recognise that this is a very difficult area, but our record of reform, change and improvement stands as a testament to what the government is doing. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
Ms S.M. McHALE : When most governments would not have put the effort into this area, this government did. I and members on this side of the house recognise that work, and we recognise that this is a very difficult area, but our record of reform, change and improvement stands as a testament to what the government is doing. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: I thank the member for Carine for her question and her obvious understanding. My department and, indeed, the department of which I was formerly a minister and the government have worked tirelessly to reform the work that we do in the community on abuse, particularly on the abuse of Aboriginal children. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member! Ms S.M. McHALE : When most governments would not have put the effort into this area, this government did. I and members on this side of the house recognise that work, and we recognise that this is a very difficult area, but our record of reform, change and improvement stands as a testament to what the government is doing. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
I thank the member for Carine for her question and her obvious understanding. My department and, indeed, the department of which I was formerly a minister and the government have worked tirelessly to reform the work that we do in the community on abuse, particularly on the abuse of Aboriginal children. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member! Ms S.M. McHALE : When most governments would not have put the effort into this area, this government did. I and members on this side of the house recognise that work, and we recognise that this is a very difficult area, but our record of reform, change and improvement stands as a testament to what the government is doing. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member! Ms S.M. McHALE : When most governments would not have put the effort into this area, this government did. I and members on this side of the house recognise that work, and we recognise that this is a very difficult area, but our record of reform, change and improvement stands as a testament to what the government is doing. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order, member! Ms S.M. McHALE : When most governments would not have put the effort into this area, this government did. I and members on this side of the house recognise that work, and we recognise that this is a very difficult area, but our record of reform, change and improvement stands as a testament to what the government is doing. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
Ms S.M. McHALE : When most governments would not have put the effort into this area, this government did. I and members on this side of the house recognise that work, and we recognise that this is a very difficult area, but our record of reform, change and improvement stands as a testament to what the government is doing. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
Ms S.M. McHALE : We have a lot more work to do and a lot of change to make. Our record stands. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time.
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