❓ A parliamentary question regarding the implementation of recommendations from the Gordon Inquiry into child protection in WA. The Minister's response is largely political, deflecting from the specific question before providing a partial answer.
AnsweredQoN 535Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
GORDON INQUIRY - IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS
(1) Is the minister aware of comments made by Children’s Court Magistrate Sue Gordon on ABC yesterday that children are still not being given the priority they deserve in WA, that this state has slowed down and that WA government departments need to revisit some of the 197 recommendations she made in her 2002 report? (2) How many of the 197 recommendations are still outstanding, and when will the outstanding recommendations be implemented? Hon SUE ELLERY
(1) Is the minister aware of comments made by Children’s Court Magistrate Sue Gordon on ABC yesterday that children are still not being given the priority they deserve in WA, that this state has slowed down and that WA government departments need to revisit some of the 197 recommendations she made in her 2002 report? (2) How many of the 197 recommendations are still outstanding, and when will the outstanding recommendations be implemented? Hon SUE ELLERY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I appreciate this question because I have wanted to make some remarks about this issue for the past couple of days. I think all of us need to acknowledge that the findings of the Northern Territory report are deeply disturbing. Those findings tell us that many governments of both persuasions, including the federal government that has presided over this for the past 11 years, have to take responsibility for what has happened in that community. With regard to Magistrate Gordon, she is certainly well respected and I respect her. I also respect the fact that she is entitled to her view on the speed with which this government has delivered its long-term plans. She did a great job in the Gordon inquiry in Western Australia. I know former Premier Geoff Gallop referred to the results of that inquiry as a matter of national crisis some five years ago and drew that to the attention of the Prime Minister and got no response. Magistrate Gordon has a challenging role ahead of her in her new position and I wish her well with that. I think there is a degree of cynicism in the Western Australian community about the announcements recently made by the Prime Minister - Hon Norman Moore : I don’t think so at all. I think they welcome it and they are sorry you are doing nothing about it in Western Australia. Hon SUE ELLERY : John Howard is a very clever politician. The polls are telling him he is in trouble and he is four months out from an election. I think he wanted to be seen to be on the front foot about something, because he has not been seen to be on the front foot on a range of issues; for example, climate and broadband. It is a cynicism that I think is also born from recent decisions by the federal government with respect to either withdrawal of funds or rejection of applications for funds to assist Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Nevertheless, despite that cynicism, which in part is also born from accusations about people seeking refuge in Australia throwing their children into the sea, that does not need to be seen as indifference - Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE : I draw to your attention, Mr President, the fact that the comments the minister is now making bear no relationship whatever to the question and sound more like a political speech about the federal election than anything to do with the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
(2) How many of the 197 recommendations are still outstanding, and when will the outstanding recommendations be implemented? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I appreciate this question because I have wanted to make some remarks about this issue for the past couple of days. I think all of us need to acknowledge that the findings of the Northern Territory report are deeply disturbing. Those findings tell us that many governments of both persuasions, including the federal government that has presided over this for the past 11 years, have to take responsibility for what has happened in that community. With regard to Magistrate Gordon, she is certainly well respected and I respect her. I also respect the fact that she is entitled to her view on the speed with which this government has delivered its long-term plans. She did a great job in the Gordon inquiry in Western Australia. I know former Premier Geoff Gallop referred to the results of that inquiry as a matter of national crisis some five years ago and drew that to the attention of the Prime Minister and got no response. Magistrate Gordon has a challenging role ahead of her in her new position and I wish her well with that. I think there is a degree of cynicism in the Western Australian community about the announcements recently made by the Prime Minister - Hon Norman Moore : I don’t think so at all. I think they welcome it and they are sorry you are doing nothing about it in Western Australia. Hon SUE ELLERY : John Howard is a very clever politician. The polls are telling him he is in trouble and he is four months out from an election. I think he wanted to be seen to be on the front foot about something, because he has not been seen to be on the front foot on a range of issues; for example, climate and broadband. It is a cynicism that I think is also born from recent decisions by the federal government with respect to either withdrawal of funds or rejection of applications for funds to assist Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Nevertheless, despite that cynicism, which in part is also born from accusations about people seeking refuge in Australia throwing their children into the sea, that does not need to be seen as indifference - Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE : I draw to your attention, Mr President, the fact that the comments the minister is now making bear no relationship whatever to the question and sound more like a political speech about the federal election than anything to do with the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I appreciate this question because I have wanted to make some remarks about this issue for the past couple of days. I think all of us need to acknowledge that the findings of the Northern Territory report are deeply disturbing. Those findings tell us that many governments of both persuasions, including the federal government that has presided over this for the past 11 years, have to take responsibility for what has happened in that community. With regard to Magistrate Gordon, she is certainly well respected and I respect her. I also respect the fact that she is entitled to her view on the speed with which this government has delivered its long-term plans. She did a great job in the Gordon inquiry in Western Australia. I know former Premier Geoff Gallop referred to the results of that inquiry as a matter of national crisis some five years ago and drew that to the attention of the Prime Minister and got no response. Magistrate Gordon has a challenging role ahead of her in her new position and I wish her well with that. I think there is a degree of cynicism in the Western Australian community about the announcements recently made by the Prime Minister - Hon Norman Moore : I don’t think so at all. I think they welcome it and they are sorry you are doing nothing about it in Western Australia. Hon SUE ELLERY : John Howard is a very clever politician. The polls are telling him he is in trouble and he is four months out from an election. I think he wanted to be seen to be on the front foot about something, because he has not been seen to be on the front foot on a range of issues; for example, climate and broadband. It is a cynicism that I think is also born from recent decisions by the federal government with respect to either withdrawal of funds or rejection of applications for funds to assist Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Nevertheless, despite that cynicism, which in part is also born from accusations about people seeking refuge in Australia throwing their children into the sea, that does not need to be seen as indifference - Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE : I draw to your attention, Mr President, the fact that the comments the minister is now making bear no relationship whatever to the question and sound more like a political speech about the federal election than anything to do with the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I appreciate this question because I have wanted to make some remarks about this issue for the past couple of days. I think all of us need to acknowledge that the findings of the Northern Territory report are deeply disturbing. Those findings tell us that many governments of both persuasions, including the federal government that has presided over this for the past 11 years, have to take responsibility for what has happened in that community. With regard to Magistrate Gordon, she is certainly well respected and I respect her. I also respect the fact that she is entitled to her view on the speed with which this government has delivered its long-term plans. She did a great job in the Gordon inquiry in Western Australia. I know former Premier Geoff Gallop referred to the results of that inquiry as a matter of national crisis some five years ago and drew that to the attention of the Prime Minister and got no response. Magistrate Gordon has a challenging role ahead of her in her new position and I wish her well with that. I think there is a degree of cynicism in the Western Australian community about the announcements recently made by the Prime Minister - Hon Norman Moore : I don’t think so at all. I think they welcome it and they are sorry you are doing nothing about it in Western Australia. Hon SUE ELLERY : John Howard is a very clever politician. The polls are telling him he is in trouble and he is four months out from an election. I think he wanted to be seen to be on the front foot about something, because he has not been seen to be on the front foot on a range of issues; for example, climate and broadband. It is a cynicism that I think is also born from recent decisions by the federal government with respect to either withdrawal of funds or rejection of applications for funds to assist Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Nevertheless, despite that cynicism, which in part is also born from accusations about people seeking refuge in Australia throwing their children into the sea, that does not need to be seen as indifference - Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE : I draw to your attention, Mr President, the fact that the comments the minister is now making bear no relationship whatever to the question and sound more like a political speech about the federal election than anything to do with the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
With regard to Magistrate Gordon, she is certainly well respected and I respect her. I also respect the fact that she is entitled to her view on the speed with which this government has delivered its long-term plans. She did a great job in the Gordon inquiry in Western Australia. I know former Premier Geoff Gallop referred to the results of that inquiry as a matter of national crisis some five years ago and drew that to the attention of the Prime Minister and got no response. Magistrate Gordon has a challenging role ahead of her in her new position and I wish her well with that. I think there is a degree of cynicism in the Western Australian community about the announcements recently made by the Prime Minister - Hon Norman Moore : I don’t think so at all. I think they welcome it and they are sorry you are doing nothing about it in Western Australia. Hon SUE ELLERY : John Howard is a very clever politician. The polls are telling him he is in trouble and he is four months out from an election. I think he wanted to be seen to be on the front foot about something, because he has not been seen to be on the front foot on a range of issues; for example, climate and broadband. It is a cynicism that I think is also born from recent decisions by the federal government with respect to either withdrawal of funds or rejection of applications for funds to assist Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Nevertheless, despite that cynicism, which in part is also born from accusations about people seeking refuge in Australia throwing their children into the sea, that does not need to be seen as indifference - Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE : I draw to your attention, Mr President, the fact that the comments the minister is now making bear no relationship whatever to the question and sound more like a political speech about the federal election than anything to do with the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
Hon Norman Moore : I don’t think so at all. I think they welcome it and they are sorry you are doing nothing about it in Western Australia. Hon SUE ELLERY : John Howard is a very clever politician. The polls are telling him he is in trouble and he is four months out from an election. I think he wanted to be seen to be on the front foot about something, because he has not been seen to be on the front foot on a range of issues; for example, climate and broadband. It is a cynicism that I think is also born from recent decisions by the federal government with respect to either withdrawal of funds or rejection of applications for funds to assist Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Nevertheless, despite that cynicism, which in part is also born from accusations about people seeking refuge in Australia throwing their children into the sea, that does not need to be seen as indifference - Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE : I draw to your attention, Mr President, the fact that the comments the minister is now making bear no relationship whatever to the question and sound more like a political speech about the federal election than anything to do with the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
Hon SUE ELLERY : John Howard is a very clever politician. The polls are telling him he is in trouble and he is four months out from an election. I think he wanted to be seen to be on the front foot about something, because he has not been seen to be on the front foot on a range of issues; for example, climate and broadband. It is a cynicism that I think is also born from recent decisions by the federal government with respect to either withdrawal of funds or rejection of applications for funds to assist Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Nevertheless, despite that cynicism, which in part is also born from accusations about people seeking refuge in Australia throwing their children into the sea, that does not need to be seen as indifference - Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE : I draw to your attention, Mr President, the fact that the comments the minister is now making bear no relationship whatever to the question and sound more like a political speech about the federal election than anything to do with the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
(1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
(2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
· Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
· The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
· Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
· The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
· The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
(2) How many of the 197 recommendations are still outstanding, and when will the outstanding recommendations be implemented? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I appreciate this question because I have wanted to make some remarks about this issue for the past couple of days. I think all of us need to acknowledge that the findings of the Northern Territory report are deeply disturbing. Those findings tell us that many governments of both persuasions, including the federal government that has presided over this for the past 11 years, have to take responsibility for what has happened in that community. With regard to Magistrate Gordon, she is certainly well respected and I respect her. I also respect the fact that she is entitled to her view on the speed with which this government has delivered its long-term plans. She did a great job in the Gordon inquiry in Western Australia. I know former Premier Geoff Gallop referred to the results of that inquiry as a matter of national crisis some five years ago and drew that to the attention of the Prime Minister and got no response. Magistrate Gordon has a challenging role ahead of her in her new position and I wish her well with that. I think there is a degree of cynicism in the Western Australian community about the announcements recently made by the Prime Minister - Hon Norman Moore : I don’t think so at all. I think they welcome it and they are sorry you are doing nothing about it in Western Australia. Hon SUE ELLERY : John Howard is a very clever politician. The polls are telling him he is in trouble and he is four months out from an election. I think he wanted to be seen to be on the front foot about something, because he has not been seen to be on the front foot on a range of issues; for example, climate and broadband. It is a cynicism that I think is also born from recent decisions by the federal government with respect to either withdrawal of funds or rejection of applications for funds to assist Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Nevertheless, despite that cynicism, which in part is also born from accusations about people seeking refuge in Australia throwing their children into the sea, that does not need to be seen as indifference - Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE : I draw to your attention, Mr President, the fact that the comments the minister is now making bear no relationship whatever to the question and sound more like a political speech about the federal election than anything to do with the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I appreciate this question because I have wanted to make some remarks about this issue for the past couple of days. I think all of us need to acknowledge that the findings of the Northern Territory report are deeply disturbing. Those findings tell us that many governments of both persuasions, including the federal government that has presided over this for the past 11 years, have to take responsibility for what has happened in that community. With regard to Magistrate Gordon, she is certainly well respected and I respect her. I also respect the fact that she is entitled to her view on the speed with which this government has delivered its long-term plans. She did a great job in the Gordon inquiry in Western Australia. I know former Premier Geoff Gallop referred to the results of that inquiry as a matter of national crisis some five years ago and drew that to the attention of the Prime Minister and got no response. Magistrate Gordon has a challenging role ahead of her in her new position and I wish her well with that. I think there is a degree of cynicism in the Western Australian community about the announcements recently made by the Prime Minister - Hon Norman Moore : I don’t think so at all. I think they welcome it and they are sorry you are doing nothing about it in Western Australia. Hon SUE ELLERY : John Howard is a very clever politician. The polls are telling him he is in trouble and he is four months out from an election. I think he wanted to be seen to be on the front foot about something, because he has not been seen to be on the front foot on a range of issues; for example, climate and broadband. It is a cynicism that I think is also born from recent decisions by the federal government with respect to either withdrawal of funds or rejection of applications for funds to assist Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Nevertheless, despite that cynicism, which in part is also born from accusations about people seeking refuge in Australia throwing their children into the sea, that does not need to be seen as indifference - Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE : I draw to your attention, Mr President, the fact that the comments the minister is now making bear no relationship whatever to the question and sound more like a political speech about the federal election than anything to do with the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I appreciate this question because I have wanted to make some remarks about this issue for the past couple of days. I think all of us need to acknowledge that the findings of the Northern Territory report are deeply disturbing. Those findings tell us that many governments of both persuasions, including the federal government that has presided over this for the past 11 years, have to take responsibility for what has happened in that community. With regard to Magistrate Gordon, she is certainly well respected and I respect her. I also respect the fact that she is entitled to her view on the speed with which this government has delivered its long-term plans. She did a great job in the Gordon inquiry in Western Australia. I know former Premier Geoff Gallop referred to the results of that inquiry as a matter of national crisis some five years ago and drew that to the attention of the Prime Minister and got no response. Magistrate Gordon has a challenging role ahead of her in her new position and I wish her well with that. I think there is a degree of cynicism in the Western Australian community about the announcements recently made by the Prime Minister - Hon Norman Moore : I don’t think so at all. I think they welcome it and they are sorry you are doing nothing about it in Western Australia. Hon SUE ELLERY : John Howard is a very clever politician. The polls are telling him he is in trouble and he is four months out from an election. I think he wanted to be seen to be on the front foot about something, because he has not been seen to be on the front foot on a range of issues; for example, climate and broadband. It is a cynicism that I think is also born from recent decisions by the federal government with respect to either withdrawal of funds or rejection of applications for funds to assist Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Nevertheless, despite that cynicism, which in part is also born from accusations about people seeking refuge in Australia throwing their children into the sea, that does not need to be seen as indifference - Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE : I draw to your attention, Mr President, the fact that the comments the minister is now making bear no relationship whatever to the question and sound more like a political speech about the federal election than anything to do with the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
With regard to Magistrate Gordon, she is certainly well respected and I respect her. I also respect the fact that she is entitled to her view on the speed with which this government has delivered its long-term plans. She did a great job in the Gordon inquiry in Western Australia. I know former Premier Geoff Gallop referred to the results of that inquiry as a matter of national crisis some five years ago and drew that to the attention of the Prime Minister and got no response. Magistrate Gordon has a challenging role ahead of her in her new position and I wish her well with that. I think there is a degree of cynicism in the Western Australian community about the announcements recently made by the Prime Minister - Hon Norman Moore : I don’t think so at all. I think they welcome it and they are sorry you are doing nothing about it in Western Australia. Hon SUE ELLERY : John Howard is a very clever politician. The polls are telling him he is in trouble and he is four months out from an election. I think he wanted to be seen to be on the front foot about something, because he has not been seen to be on the front foot on a range of issues; for example, climate and broadband. It is a cynicism that I think is also born from recent decisions by the federal government with respect to either withdrawal of funds or rejection of applications for funds to assist Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Nevertheless, despite that cynicism, which in part is also born from accusations about people seeking refuge in Australia throwing their children into the sea, that does not need to be seen as indifference - Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE : I draw to your attention, Mr President, the fact that the comments the minister is now making bear no relationship whatever to the question and sound more like a political speech about the federal election than anything to do with the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
Hon Norman Moore : I don’t think so at all. I think they welcome it and they are sorry you are doing nothing about it in Western Australia. Hon SUE ELLERY : John Howard is a very clever politician. The polls are telling him he is in trouble and he is four months out from an election. I think he wanted to be seen to be on the front foot about something, because he has not been seen to be on the front foot on a range of issues; for example, climate and broadband. It is a cynicism that I think is also born from recent decisions by the federal government with respect to either withdrawal of funds or rejection of applications for funds to assist Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Nevertheless, despite that cynicism, which in part is also born from accusations about people seeking refuge in Australia throwing their children into the sea, that does not need to be seen as indifference - Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE : I draw to your attention, Mr President, the fact that the comments the minister is now making bear no relationship whatever to the question and sound more like a political speech about the federal election than anything to do with the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
Hon SUE ELLERY : John Howard is a very clever politician. The polls are telling him he is in trouble and he is four months out from an election. I think he wanted to be seen to be on the front foot about something, because he has not been seen to be on the front foot on a range of issues; for example, climate and broadband. It is a cynicism that I think is also born from recent decisions by the federal government with respect to either withdrawal of funds or rejection of applications for funds to assist Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Nevertheless, despite that cynicism, which in part is also born from accusations about people seeking refuge in Australia throwing their children into the sea, that does not need to be seen as indifference - Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE : I draw to your attention, Mr President, the fact that the comments the minister is now making bear no relationship whatever to the question and sound more like a political speech about the federal election than anything to do with the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
The PRESIDENT : Order, members! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. Hon Robyn McSweeney asked the question and the Minister for Child Protection is answering the question and, I think, is bringing her remarks to a close soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon SUE ELLERY : She is indeed. Thank you, Mr President. The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
The point I was trying to make is that that cynicism ought not be seen as indifference, particularly on the part of the government, to what is a really serious issue. I am pleased today that the Premier has announced that we will offer to the federal government strategic expertise that we got through the efforts of Sue Gordon and others in the Gordon inquiry. I was also pleased that the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, was making some positive comments about that this morning. In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
In respect of the specific question - (1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
(1) Yes. (2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
(2) The Department of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the government’s action plan to address the 197 recommendations arising from the Gordon inquiry. That department advises that action has commenced on all of the recommendations, with 35 still in progress. For the question to be answered in further detail, it needs to be addressed either to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs or to each minister in turn responsible for specific recommendations, but I can speak specifically about the large number of recommendations that relate to child protection. I will touch on some of those recommendations and I invite the member to seek further details about matters I do not cover now. Key actions arising from the Gordon inquiry report included - · The government committed $75 million over four years to implement the 197 recommendations outlined in the report. · Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
· Twenty-eight new community child protection positions throughout the state, including nine remote workers co-located within the multifunctional police facilities in Kalumburu, Bidgedanga, Balgo, Warburton (two workers), Jigalong, Dampier Peninsula, Oombulgurri and Halls Creek. · The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
· The creation of the specialist child interview unit. · Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
· Fourteen Strong Families coordinators throughout the state to enhance collaborative case management responses across agencies. · The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
· The Safe People, Safe Places initiative, which builds on existing ways of supporting Aboriginal families that are already providing safe places for children to stay. · The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
· The development of the sexually transmitted infection reporting protocol, which requires all incidents of sexually transmitted diseases in children under the age of 14 to be reported to the Department for Community Development and WA Police.
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