❓ Opposition questions the Premier regarding a damning Auditor General's report on the monitoring of the government's action plan for the Gordon inquiry into Aboriginal child abuse. The Premier defends the government's actions and commitment.
AnsweredQoN 755Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Premier to his comments in this house in August 2002 when he outlined his 120-point action plan to deal with the recommendations from the Gordon inquiry into allegations of terrible child abuse in Aboriginal communities. He stated - Generations of young people are being lost, families are being . . . torn apart. There are no excuses! We have to make a stand. I ask - (1) What excuses can be made for the damning report brought down by the Auditor General today that is scathing of the monitoring and oversight secretariat established under the Premier’s control in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet that is meant to, but has failed to, monitor the implementation of the government’s action plan for the Gordon report? (2) If this child abuse in Aboriginal communities is of such great concern to the Premier, why did he transfer responsibility for that secretariat from his department to the Department of Indigenous Affairs in April this year? (3) Could it be because the Premier realised that he had failed in his stewardship of this secretariat and wanted somebody else to take the blame for its failings? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) Once again the state opposition is completely out of touch with what is happening in Western Australia. If there is one area of government that we are extremely proud of, it is the implementation of recommendations in the Gordon inquiry report. The Auditor General dealt with what I would call some issues related to the way that we monitor our performance, the way we communicate to the public and the way we might evaluate some of the initiatives. He did not go to the content of what the government is doing. The content is that 120 initiatives have been implemented by 15 public sector agencies, including $66.5 million in new funding. Do members know what has happened in the past three years as a result of that? The level of reported domestic violence and child abuse in indigenous communities has increased, which is a demonstration that the willingness and opportunity to report these crimes is increasing. Do members know what is happening in the community? I have noticed it as I have moved around. The government of Western Australia has empowered Aboriginal women. They are taking up the challenge in their communities to make sure their kids grow up in safety and that their kids have a future. The Auditor General raised some issues about the processes that are followed in this area in terms of reporting, communication with the public and the evaluation frameworks that are currently in existence within government. We will deal with those issues. However, for the Leader of the Opposition to come in here and imply that the Auditor General’s report criticises our government for its commitment in the area of the Gordon inquiry indicates his ignorance of what is happening. Let us go back through the history. Who took up the challenge of child abuse in Aboriginal communities? It was the Labor Party that took that up. Who took up the challenge of the camp that existed in Lockridge? We took up that challenge, despite the efforts by elements of the opposition to thwart what we were doing. We closed the Swan Valley Nyungah Community in the interests of the women and children in that camp - and what a change that has made to the way in which Western Australia now operates. We are proud of what we are doing. However, as I have said, more than anything else in this area, we have to empower women in their communities to take up the challenge of abuse, to fight against domestic violence, and to be able to lead their communities to a new future. That is what we have done. It is a great achievement, and I am very proud of it.
(1) What excuses can be made for the damning report brought down by the Auditor General today that is scathing of the monitoring and oversight secretariat established under the Premier’s control in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet that is meant to, but has failed to, monitor the implementation of the government’s action plan for the Gordon report? (2) If this child abuse in Aboriginal communities is of such great concern to the Premier, why did he transfer responsibility for that secretariat from his department to the Department of Indigenous Affairs in April this year? (3) Could it be because the Premier realised that he had failed in his stewardship of this secretariat and wanted somebody else to take the blame for its failings? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) Once again the state opposition is completely out of touch with what is happening in Western Australia. If there is one area of government that we are extremely proud of, it is the implementation of recommendations in the Gordon inquiry report. The Auditor General dealt with what I would call some issues related to the way that we monitor our performance, the way we communicate to the public and the way we might evaluate some of the initiatives. He did not go to the content of what the government is doing. The content is that 120 initiatives have been implemented by 15 public sector agencies, including $66.5 million in new funding. Do members know what has happened in the past three years as a result of that? The level of reported domestic violence and child abuse in indigenous communities has increased, which is a demonstration that the willingness and opportunity to report these crimes is increasing. Do members know what is happening in the community? I have noticed it as I have moved around. The government of Western Australia has empowered Aboriginal women. They are taking up the challenge in their communities to make sure their kids grow up in safety and that their kids have a future. The Auditor General raised some issues about the processes that are followed in this area in terms of reporting, communication with the public and the evaluation frameworks that are currently in existence within government. We will deal with those issues. However, for the Leader of the Opposition to come in here and imply that the Auditor General’s report criticises our government for its commitment in the area of the Gordon inquiry indicates his ignorance of what is happening. Let us go back through the history. Who took up the challenge of child abuse in Aboriginal communities? It was the Labor Party that took that up. Who took up the challenge of the camp that existed in Lockridge? We took up that challenge, despite the efforts by elements of the opposition to thwart what we were doing. We closed the Swan Valley Nyungah Community in the interests of the women and children in that camp - and what a change that has made to the way in which Western Australia now operates. We are proud of what we are doing. However, as I have said, more than anything else in this area, we have to empower women in their communities to take up the challenge of abuse, to fight against domestic violence, and to be able to lead their communities to a new future. That is what we have done. It is a great achievement, and I am very proud of it.
(2) If this child abuse in Aboriginal communities is of such great concern to the Premier, why did he transfer responsibility for that secretariat from his department to the Department of Indigenous Affairs in April this year? (3) Could it be because the Premier realised that he had failed in his stewardship of this secretariat and wanted somebody else to take the blame for its failings? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) Once again the state opposition is completely out of touch with what is happening in Western Australia. If there is one area of government that we are extremely proud of, it is the implementation of recommendations in the Gordon inquiry report. The Auditor General dealt with what I would call some issues related to the way that we monitor our performance, the way we communicate to the public and the way we might evaluate some of the initiatives. He did not go to the content of what the government is doing. The content is that 120 initiatives have been implemented by 15 public sector agencies, including $66.5 million in new funding. Do members know what has happened in the past three years as a result of that? The level of reported domestic violence and child abuse in indigenous communities has increased, which is a demonstration that the willingness and opportunity to report these crimes is increasing. Do members know what is happening in the community? I have noticed it as I have moved around. The government of Western Australia has empowered Aboriginal women. They are taking up the challenge in their communities to make sure their kids grow up in safety and that their kids have a future. The Auditor General raised some issues about the processes that are followed in this area in terms of reporting, communication with the public and the evaluation frameworks that are currently in existence within government. We will deal with those issues. However, for the Leader of the Opposition to come in here and imply that the Auditor General’s report criticises our government for its commitment in the area of the Gordon inquiry indicates his ignorance of what is happening. Let us go back through the history. Who took up the challenge of child abuse in Aboriginal communities? It was the Labor Party that took that up. Who took up the challenge of the camp that existed in Lockridge? We took up that challenge, despite the efforts by elements of the opposition to thwart what we were doing. We closed the Swan Valley Nyungah Community in the interests of the women and children in that camp - and what a change that has made to the way in which Western Australia now operates. We are proud of what we are doing. However, as I have said, more than anything else in this area, we have to empower women in their communities to take up the challenge of abuse, to fight against domestic violence, and to be able to lead their communities to a new future. That is what we have done. It is a great achievement, and I am very proud of it.
(3) Could it be because the Premier realised that he had failed in his stewardship of this secretariat and wanted somebody else to take the blame for its failings? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) Once again the state opposition is completely out of touch with what is happening in Western Australia. If there is one area of government that we are extremely proud of, it is the implementation of recommendations in the Gordon inquiry report. The Auditor General dealt with what I would call some issues related to the way that we monitor our performance, the way we communicate to the public and the way we might evaluate some of the initiatives. He did not go to the content of what the government is doing. The content is that 120 initiatives have been implemented by 15 public sector agencies, including $66.5 million in new funding. Do members know what has happened in the past three years as a result of that? The level of reported domestic violence and child abuse in indigenous communities has increased, which is a demonstration that the willingness and opportunity to report these crimes is increasing. Do members know what is happening in the community? I have noticed it as I have moved around. The government of Western Australia has empowered Aboriginal women. They are taking up the challenge in their communities to make sure their kids grow up in safety and that their kids have a future. The Auditor General raised some issues about the processes that are followed in this area in terms of reporting, communication with the public and the evaluation frameworks that are currently in existence within government. We will deal with those issues. However, for the Leader of the Opposition to come in here and imply that the Auditor General’s report criticises our government for its commitment in the area of the Gordon inquiry indicates his ignorance of what is happening. Let us go back through the history. Who took up the challenge of child abuse in Aboriginal communities? It was the Labor Party that took that up. Who took up the challenge of the camp that existed in Lockridge? We took up that challenge, despite the efforts by elements of the opposition to thwart what we were doing. We closed the Swan Valley Nyungah Community in the interests of the women and children in that camp - and what a change that has made to the way in which Western Australia now operates. We are proud of what we are doing. However, as I have said, more than anything else in this area, we have to empower women in their communities to take up the challenge of abuse, to fight against domestic violence, and to be able to lead their communities to a new future. That is what we have done. It is a great achievement, and I am very proud of it.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) Once again the state opposition is completely out of touch with what is happening in Western Australia. If there is one area of government that we are extremely proud of, it is the implementation of recommendations in the Gordon inquiry report. The Auditor General dealt with what I would call some issues related to the way that we monitor our performance, the way we communicate to the public and the way we might evaluate some of the initiatives. He did not go to the content of what the government is doing. The content is that 120 initiatives have been implemented by 15 public sector agencies, including $66.5 million in new funding. Do members know what has happened in the past three years as a result of that? The level of reported domestic violence and child abuse in indigenous communities has increased, which is a demonstration that the willingness and opportunity to report these crimes is increasing. Do members know what is happening in the community? I have noticed it as I have moved around. The government of Western Australia has empowered Aboriginal women. They are taking up the challenge in their communities to make sure their kids grow up in safety and that their kids have a future. The Auditor General raised some issues about the processes that are followed in this area in terms of reporting, communication with the public and the evaluation frameworks that are currently in existence within government. We will deal with those issues. However, for the Leader of the Opposition to come in here and imply that the Auditor General’s report criticises our government for its commitment in the area of the Gordon inquiry indicates his ignorance of what is happening. Let us go back through the history. Who took up the challenge of child abuse in Aboriginal communities? It was the Labor Party that took that up. Who took up the challenge of the camp that existed in Lockridge? We took up that challenge, despite the efforts by elements of the opposition to thwart what we were doing. We closed the Swan Valley Nyungah Community in the interests of the women and children in that camp - and what a change that has made to the way in which Western Australia now operates. We are proud of what we are doing. However, as I have said, more than anything else in this area, we have to empower women in their communities to take up the challenge of abuse, to fight against domestic violence, and to be able to lead their communities to a new future. That is what we have done. It is a great achievement, and I am very proud of it.
(1)-(3) Once again the state opposition is completely out of touch with what is happening in Western Australia. If there is one area of government that we are extremely proud of, it is the implementation of recommendations in the Gordon inquiry report. The Auditor General dealt with what I would call some issues related to the way that we monitor our performance, the way we communicate to the public and the way we might evaluate some of the initiatives. He did not go to the content of what the government is doing. The content is that 120 initiatives have been implemented by 15 public sector agencies, including $66.5 million in new funding. Do members know what has happened in the past three years as a result of that? The level of reported domestic violence and child abuse in indigenous communities has increased, which is a demonstration that the willingness and opportunity to report these crimes is increasing. Do members know what is happening in the community? I have noticed it as I have moved around. The government of Western Australia has empowered Aboriginal women. They are taking up the challenge in their communities to make sure their kids grow up in safety and that their kids have a future. The Auditor General raised some issues about the processes that are followed in this area in terms of reporting, communication with the public and the evaluation frameworks that are currently in existence within government. We will deal with those issues. However, for the Leader of the Opposition to come in here and imply that the Auditor General’s report criticises our government for its commitment in the area of the Gordon inquiry indicates his ignorance of what is happening. Let us go back through the history. Who took up the challenge of child abuse in Aboriginal communities? It was the Labor Party that took that up. Who took up the challenge of the camp that existed in Lockridge? We took up that challenge, despite the efforts by elements of the opposition to thwart what we were doing. We closed the Swan Valley Nyungah Community in the interests of the women and children in that camp - and what a change that has made to the way in which Western Australia now operates. We are proud of what we are doing. However, as I have said, more than anything else in this area, we have to empower women in their communities to take up the challenge of abuse, to fight against domestic violence, and to be able to lead their communities to a new future. That is what we have done. It is a great achievement, and I am very proud of it.
(1) What excuses can be made for the damning report brought down by the Auditor General today that is scathing of the monitoring and oversight secretariat established under the Premier’s control in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet that is meant to, but has failed to, monitor the implementation of the government’s action plan for the Gordon report? (2) If this child abuse in Aboriginal communities is of such great concern to the Premier, why did he transfer responsibility for that secretariat from his department to the Department of Indigenous Affairs in April this year? (3) Could it be because the Premier realised that he had failed in his stewardship of this secretariat and wanted somebody else to take the blame for its failings? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) Once again the state opposition is completely out of touch with what is happening in Western Australia. If there is one area of government that we are extremely proud of, it is the implementation of recommendations in the Gordon inquiry report. The Auditor General dealt with what I would call some issues related to the way that we monitor our performance, the way we communicate to the public and the way we might evaluate some of the initiatives. He did not go to the content of what the government is doing. The content is that 120 initiatives have been implemented by 15 public sector agencies, including $66.5 million in new funding. Do members know what has happened in the past three years as a result of that? The level of reported domestic violence and child abuse in indigenous communities has increased, which is a demonstration that the willingness and opportunity to report these crimes is increasing. Do members know what is happening in the community? I have noticed it as I have moved around. The government of Western Australia has empowered Aboriginal women. They are taking up the challenge in their communities to make sure their kids grow up in safety and that their kids have a future. The Auditor General raised some issues about the processes that are followed in this area in terms of reporting, communication with the public and the evaluation frameworks that are currently in existence within government. We will deal with those issues. However, for the Leader of the Opposition to come in here and imply that the Auditor General’s report criticises our government for its commitment in the area of the Gordon inquiry indicates his ignorance of what is happening. Let us go back through the history. Who took up the challenge of child abuse in Aboriginal communities? It was the Labor Party that took that up. Who took up the challenge of the camp that existed in Lockridge? We took up that challenge, despite the efforts by elements of the opposition to thwart what we were doing. We closed the Swan Valley Nyungah Community in the interests of the women and children in that camp - and what a change that has made to the way in which Western Australia now operates. We are proud of what we are doing. However, as I have said, more than anything else in this area, we have to empower women in their communities to take up the challenge of abuse, to fight against domestic violence, and to be able to lead their communities to a new future. That is what we have done. It is a great achievement, and I am very proud of it.
(2) If this child abuse in Aboriginal communities is of such great concern to the Premier, why did he transfer responsibility for that secretariat from his department to the Department of Indigenous Affairs in April this year? (3) Could it be because the Premier realised that he had failed in his stewardship of this secretariat and wanted somebody else to take the blame for its failings? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) Once again the state opposition is completely out of touch with what is happening in Western Australia. If there is one area of government that we are extremely proud of, it is the implementation of recommendations in the Gordon inquiry report. The Auditor General dealt with what I would call some issues related to the way that we monitor our performance, the way we communicate to the public and the way we might evaluate some of the initiatives. He did not go to the content of what the government is doing. The content is that 120 initiatives have been implemented by 15 public sector agencies, including $66.5 million in new funding. Do members know what has happened in the past three years as a result of that? The level of reported domestic violence and child abuse in indigenous communities has increased, which is a demonstration that the willingness and opportunity to report these crimes is increasing. Do members know what is happening in the community? I have noticed it as I have moved around. The government of Western Australia has empowered Aboriginal women. They are taking up the challenge in their communities to make sure their kids grow up in safety and that their kids have a future. The Auditor General raised some issues about the processes that are followed in this area in terms of reporting, communication with the public and the evaluation frameworks that are currently in existence within government. We will deal with those issues. However, for the Leader of the Opposition to come in here and imply that the Auditor General’s report criticises our government for its commitment in the area of the Gordon inquiry indicates his ignorance of what is happening. Let us go back through the history. Who took up the challenge of child abuse in Aboriginal communities? It was the Labor Party that took that up. Who took up the challenge of the camp that existed in Lockridge? We took up that challenge, despite the efforts by elements of the opposition to thwart what we were doing. We closed the Swan Valley Nyungah Community in the interests of the women and children in that camp - and what a change that has made to the way in which Western Australia now operates. We are proud of what we are doing. However, as I have said, more than anything else in this area, we have to empower women in their communities to take up the challenge of abuse, to fight against domestic violence, and to be able to lead their communities to a new future. That is what we have done. It is a great achievement, and I am very proud of it.
(3) Could it be because the Premier realised that he had failed in his stewardship of this secretariat and wanted somebody else to take the blame for its failings? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) Once again the state opposition is completely out of touch with what is happening in Western Australia. If there is one area of government that we are extremely proud of, it is the implementation of recommendations in the Gordon inquiry report. The Auditor General dealt with what I would call some issues related to the way that we monitor our performance, the way we communicate to the public and the way we might evaluate some of the initiatives. He did not go to the content of what the government is doing. The content is that 120 initiatives have been implemented by 15 public sector agencies, including $66.5 million in new funding. Do members know what has happened in the past three years as a result of that? The level of reported domestic violence and child abuse in indigenous communities has increased, which is a demonstration that the willingness and opportunity to report these crimes is increasing. Do members know what is happening in the community? I have noticed it as I have moved around. The government of Western Australia has empowered Aboriginal women. They are taking up the challenge in their communities to make sure their kids grow up in safety and that their kids have a future. The Auditor General raised some issues about the processes that are followed in this area in terms of reporting, communication with the public and the evaluation frameworks that are currently in existence within government. We will deal with those issues. However, for the Leader of the Opposition to come in here and imply that the Auditor General’s report criticises our government for its commitment in the area of the Gordon inquiry indicates his ignorance of what is happening. Let us go back through the history. Who took up the challenge of child abuse in Aboriginal communities? It was the Labor Party that took that up. Who took up the challenge of the camp that existed in Lockridge? We took up that challenge, despite the efforts by elements of the opposition to thwart what we were doing. We closed the Swan Valley Nyungah Community in the interests of the women and children in that camp - and what a change that has made to the way in which Western Australia now operates. We are proud of what we are doing. However, as I have said, more than anything else in this area, we have to empower women in their communities to take up the challenge of abuse, to fight against domestic violence, and to be able to lead their communities to a new future. That is what we have done. It is a great achievement, and I am very proud of it.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) Once again the state opposition is completely out of touch with what is happening in Western Australia. If there is one area of government that we are extremely proud of, it is the implementation of recommendations in the Gordon inquiry report. The Auditor General dealt with what I would call some issues related to the way that we monitor our performance, the way we communicate to the public and the way we might evaluate some of the initiatives. He did not go to the content of what the government is doing. The content is that 120 initiatives have been implemented by 15 public sector agencies, including $66.5 million in new funding. Do members know what has happened in the past three years as a result of that? The level of reported domestic violence and child abuse in indigenous communities has increased, which is a demonstration that the willingness and opportunity to report these crimes is increasing. Do members know what is happening in the community? I have noticed it as I have moved around. The government of Western Australia has empowered Aboriginal women. They are taking up the challenge in their communities to make sure their kids grow up in safety and that their kids have a future. The Auditor General raised some issues about the processes that are followed in this area in terms of reporting, communication with the public and the evaluation frameworks that are currently in existence within government. We will deal with those issues. However, for the Leader of the Opposition to come in here and imply that the Auditor General’s report criticises our government for its commitment in the area of the Gordon inquiry indicates his ignorance of what is happening. Let us go back through the history. Who took up the challenge of child abuse in Aboriginal communities? It was the Labor Party that took that up. Who took up the challenge of the camp that existed in Lockridge? We took up that challenge, despite the efforts by elements of the opposition to thwart what we were doing. We closed the Swan Valley Nyungah Community in the interests of the women and children in that camp - and what a change that has made to the way in which Western Australia now operates. We are proud of what we are doing. However, as I have said, more than anything else in this area, we have to empower women in their communities to take up the challenge of abuse, to fight against domestic violence, and to be able to lead their communities to a new future. That is what we have done. It is a great achievement, and I am very proud of it.
(1)-(3) Once again the state opposition is completely out of touch with what is happening in Western Australia. If there is one area of government that we are extremely proud of, it is the implementation of recommendations in the Gordon inquiry report. The Auditor General dealt with what I would call some issues related to the way that we monitor our performance, the way we communicate to the public and the way we might evaluate some of the initiatives. He did not go to the content of what the government is doing. The content is that 120 initiatives have been implemented by 15 public sector agencies, including $66.5 million in new funding. Do members know what has happened in the past three years as a result of that? The level of reported domestic violence and child abuse in indigenous communities has increased, which is a demonstration that the willingness and opportunity to report these crimes is increasing. Do members know what is happening in the community? I have noticed it as I have moved around. The government of Western Australia has empowered Aboriginal women. They are taking up the challenge in their communities to make sure their kids grow up in safety and that their kids have a future. The Auditor General raised some issues about the processes that are followed in this area in terms of reporting, communication with the public and the evaluation frameworks that are currently in existence within government. We will deal with those issues. However, for the Leader of the Opposition to come in here and imply that the Auditor General’s report criticises our government for its commitment in the area of the Gordon inquiry indicates his ignorance of what is happening. Let us go back through the history. Who took up the challenge of child abuse in Aboriginal communities? It was the Labor Party that took that up. Who took up the challenge of the camp that existed in Lockridge? We took up that challenge, despite the efforts by elements of the opposition to thwart what we were doing. We closed the Swan Valley Nyungah Community in the interests of the women and children in that camp - and what a change that has made to the way in which Western Australia now operates. We are proud of what we are doing. However, as I have said, more than anything else in this area, we have to empower women in their communities to take up the challenge of abuse, to fight against domestic violence, and to be able to lead their communities to a new future. That is what we have done. It is a great achievement, and I am very proud of it.
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