❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Department for Community Development's handling of child deaths and the Minister's response, highlighting increased funding and staffing while defending the government's legislative actions in child protection.
AnsweredQoN 579Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - ROYAL COMMISSION
I take the opportunity to welcome the year 11 students from the Sacred Heart College, which is in my electorate. In 2005-06, just one year, 55 more children died who were known to Department for Community Development, bringing the total number of children who have died since 2001 and who were known to DCD to 214. Since 2001 the number of staff in DCD has increased by around 180 while the budget has increased by $80 million, or 45 per cent. (1) When will the minister recognise that simply throwing money at problems such as this will not resolve the fundamental systemic failings that cause them? (2) Why does the minister refuse to establish a royal commission to thoroughly investigate these failings and recommend meaningful changes, and what has he and his government got to hide? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN
I take the opportunity to welcome the year 11 students from the Sacred Heart College, which is in my electorate. In 2005-06, just one year, 55 more children died who were known to Department for Community Development, bringing the total number of children who have died since 2001 and who were known to DCD to 214. Since 2001 the number of staff in DCD has increased by around 180 while the budget has increased by $80 million, or 45 per cent. (1) When will the minister recognise that simply throwing money at problems such as this will not resolve the fundamental systemic failings that cause them? (2) Why does the minister refuse to establish a royal commission to thoroughly investigate these failings and recommend meaningful changes, and what has he and his government got to hide? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) The question gives me another opportunity to highlight the work that this government has done on child protection in this state. It is very important that the member understand, because he does not have an understanding, that this government has introduced a raft of legislation that underpins the child protection system in this state. The coalition government did nothing to amend any legislation, introduce legislation or attempt to make sure that outdated legislation was repealed or amended. We did that. It is interesting that the member highlights the increased number of staff. This government recognises that we need to make sure that there are enough DCD staff in our communities working in the field, and enough caseworkers and psychologists working with vulnerable children and families. We need to make sure that there are more of them. We must all come to this realisation: one of the sad things about modern society - and this is a trend happening in Australia and worldwide - is that unfortunately more children are coming into care. That is a tragedy. It is a tragedy that more children are coming into care. It is a sad fact that too many parents are not able or responsible enough to look after their children. Members should remember that it is the responsibility of the people who bring children into this world to look after those children. We have to make sure that we support vulnerable families and we support families who need assistance to look after their children appropriately. However, there will always be times - we see them more and more in our community - when children have to be taken from their parents and put into care. That is a sad thing about our community. This issue is above politics. We have to understand that this is a problem for all of us to solve. It is a community-wide problem. Everybody in this community has a responsibility to ensure that our children are protected and given the best possible start in life and the best possible chance to thrive. I will keep on working to ensure that we have the best child protection policies that we possibly can to protect our kids. That is being supported by the increase in dollars which will mean an increase in staff on the ground.
In 2005-06, just one year, 55 more children died who were known to Department for Community Development, bringing the total number of children who have died since 2001 and who were known to DCD to 214. Since 2001 the number of staff in DCD has increased by around 180 while the budget has increased by $80 million, or 45 per cent. (1) When will the minister recognise that simply throwing money at problems such as this will not resolve the fundamental systemic failings that cause them? (2) Why does the minister refuse to establish a royal commission to thoroughly investigate these failings and recommend meaningful changes, and what has he and his government got to hide? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) The question gives me another opportunity to highlight the work that this government has done on child protection in this state. It is very important that the member understand, because he does not have an understanding, that this government has introduced a raft of legislation that underpins the child protection system in this state. The coalition government did nothing to amend any legislation, introduce legislation or attempt to make sure that outdated legislation was repealed or amended. We did that. It is interesting that the member highlights the increased number of staff. This government recognises that we need to make sure that there are enough DCD staff in our communities working in the field, and enough caseworkers and psychologists working with vulnerable children and families. We need to make sure that there are more of them. We must all come to this realisation: one of the sad things about modern society - and this is a trend happening in Australia and worldwide - is that unfortunately more children are coming into care. That is a tragedy. It is a tragedy that more children are coming into care. It is a sad fact that too many parents are not able or responsible enough to look after their children. Members should remember that it is the responsibility of the people who bring children into this world to look after those children. We have to make sure that we support vulnerable families and we support families who need assistance to look after their children appropriately. However, there will always be times - we see them more and more in our community - when children have to be taken from their parents and put into care. That is a sad thing about our community. This issue is above politics. We have to understand that this is a problem for all of us to solve. It is a community-wide problem. Everybody in this community has a responsibility to ensure that our children are protected and given the best possible start in life and the best possible chance to thrive. I will keep on working to ensure that we have the best child protection policies that we possibly can to protect our kids. That is being supported by the increase in dollars which will mean an increase in staff on the ground.
(1) When will the minister recognise that simply throwing money at problems such as this will not resolve the fundamental systemic failings that cause them? (2) Why does the minister refuse to establish a royal commission to thoroughly investigate these failings and recommend meaningful changes, and what has he and his government got to hide? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) The question gives me another opportunity to highlight the work that this government has done on child protection in this state. It is very important that the member understand, because he does not have an understanding, that this government has introduced a raft of legislation that underpins the child protection system in this state. The coalition government did nothing to amend any legislation, introduce legislation or attempt to make sure that outdated legislation was repealed or amended. We did that. It is interesting that the member highlights the increased number of staff. This government recognises that we need to make sure that there are enough DCD staff in our communities working in the field, and enough caseworkers and psychologists working with vulnerable children and families. We need to make sure that there are more of them. We must all come to this realisation: one of the sad things about modern society - and this is a trend happening in Australia and worldwide - is that unfortunately more children are coming into care. That is a tragedy. It is a tragedy that more children are coming into care. It is a sad fact that too many parents are not able or responsible enough to look after their children. Members should remember that it is the responsibility of the people who bring children into this world to look after those children. We have to make sure that we support vulnerable families and we support families who need assistance to look after their children appropriately. However, there will always be times - we see them more and more in our community - when children have to be taken from their parents and put into care. That is a sad thing about our community. This issue is above politics. We have to understand that this is a problem for all of us to solve. It is a community-wide problem. Everybody in this community has a responsibility to ensure that our children are protected and given the best possible start in life and the best possible chance to thrive. I will keep on working to ensure that we have the best child protection policies that we possibly can to protect our kids. That is being supported by the increase in dollars which will mean an increase in staff on the ground.
(2) Why does the minister refuse to establish a royal commission to thoroughly investigate these failings and recommend meaningful changes, and what has he and his government got to hide? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) The question gives me another opportunity to highlight the work that this government has done on child protection in this state. It is very important that the member understand, because he does not have an understanding, that this government has introduced a raft of legislation that underpins the child protection system in this state. The coalition government did nothing to amend any legislation, introduce legislation or attempt to make sure that outdated legislation was repealed or amended. We did that. It is interesting that the member highlights the increased number of staff. This government recognises that we need to make sure that there are enough DCD staff in our communities working in the field, and enough caseworkers and psychologists working with vulnerable children and families. We need to make sure that there are more of them. We must all come to this realisation: one of the sad things about modern society - and this is a trend happening in Australia and worldwide - is that unfortunately more children are coming into care. That is a tragedy. It is a tragedy that more children are coming into care. It is a sad fact that too many parents are not able or responsible enough to look after their children. Members should remember that it is the responsibility of the people who bring children into this world to look after those children. We have to make sure that we support vulnerable families and we support families who need assistance to look after their children appropriately. However, there will always be times - we see them more and more in our community - when children have to be taken from their parents and put into care. That is a sad thing about our community. This issue is above politics. We have to understand that this is a problem for all of us to solve. It is a community-wide problem. Everybody in this community has a responsibility to ensure that our children are protected and given the best possible start in life and the best possible chance to thrive. I will keep on working to ensure that we have the best child protection policies that we possibly can to protect our kids. That is being supported by the increase in dollars which will mean an increase in staff on the ground.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) The question gives me another opportunity to highlight the work that this government has done on child protection in this state. It is very important that the member understand, because he does not have an understanding, that this government has introduced a raft of legislation that underpins the child protection system in this state. The coalition government did nothing to amend any legislation, introduce legislation or attempt to make sure that outdated legislation was repealed or amended. We did that. It is interesting that the member highlights the increased number of staff. This government recognises that we need to make sure that there are enough DCD staff in our communities working in the field, and enough caseworkers and psychologists working with vulnerable children and families. We need to make sure that there are more of them. We must all come to this realisation: one of the sad things about modern society - and this is a trend happening in Australia and worldwide - is that unfortunately more children are coming into care. That is a tragedy. It is a tragedy that more children are coming into care. It is a sad fact that too many parents are not able or responsible enough to look after their children. Members should remember that it is the responsibility of the people who bring children into this world to look after those children. We have to make sure that we support vulnerable families and we support families who need assistance to look after their children appropriately. However, there will always be times - we see them more and more in our community - when children have to be taken from their parents and put into care. That is a sad thing about our community. This issue is above politics. We have to understand that this is a problem for all of us to solve. It is a community-wide problem. Everybody in this community has a responsibility to ensure that our children are protected and given the best possible start in life and the best possible chance to thrive. I will keep on working to ensure that we have the best child protection policies that we possibly can to protect our kids. That is being supported by the increase in dollars which will mean an increase in staff on the ground.
(1)-(2) The question gives me another opportunity to highlight the work that this government has done on child protection in this state. It is very important that the member understand, because he does not have an understanding, that this government has introduced a raft of legislation that underpins the child protection system in this state. The coalition government did nothing to amend any legislation, introduce legislation or attempt to make sure that outdated legislation was repealed or amended. We did that. It is interesting that the member highlights the increased number of staff. This government recognises that we need to make sure that there are enough DCD staff in our communities working in the field, and enough caseworkers and psychologists working with vulnerable children and families. We need to make sure that there are more of them. We must all come to this realisation: one of the sad things about modern society - and this is a trend happening in Australia and worldwide - is that unfortunately more children are coming into care. That is a tragedy. It is a tragedy that more children are coming into care. It is a sad fact that too many parents are not able or responsible enough to look after their children. Members should remember that it is the responsibility of the people who bring children into this world to look after those children. We have to make sure that we support vulnerable families and we support families who need assistance to look after their children appropriately. However, there will always be times - we see them more and more in our community - when children have to be taken from their parents and put into care. That is a sad thing about our community. This issue is above politics. We have to understand that this is a problem for all of us to solve. It is a community-wide problem. Everybody in this community has a responsibility to ensure that our children are protected and given the best possible start in life and the best possible chance to thrive. I will keep on working to ensure that we have the best child protection policies that we possibly can to protect our kids. That is being supported by the increase in dollars which will mean an increase in staff on the ground.
In 2005-06, just one year, 55 more children died who were known to Department for Community Development, bringing the total number of children who have died since 2001 and who were known to DCD to 214. Since 2001 the number of staff in DCD has increased by around 180 while the budget has increased by $80 million, or 45 per cent. (1) When will the minister recognise that simply throwing money at problems such as this will not resolve the fundamental systemic failings that cause them? (2) Why does the minister refuse to establish a royal commission to thoroughly investigate these failings and recommend meaningful changes, and what has he and his government got to hide? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) The question gives me another opportunity to highlight the work that this government has done on child protection in this state. It is very important that the member understand, because he does not have an understanding, that this government has introduced a raft of legislation that underpins the child protection system in this state. The coalition government did nothing to amend any legislation, introduce legislation or attempt to make sure that outdated legislation was repealed or amended. We did that. It is interesting that the member highlights the increased number of staff. This government recognises that we need to make sure that there are enough DCD staff in our communities working in the field, and enough caseworkers and psychologists working with vulnerable children and families. We need to make sure that there are more of them. We must all come to this realisation: one of the sad things about modern society - and this is a trend happening in Australia and worldwide - is that unfortunately more children are coming into care. That is a tragedy. It is a tragedy that more children are coming into care. It is a sad fact that too many parents are not able or responsible enough to look after their children. Members should remember that it is the responsibility of the people who bring children into this world to look after those children. We have to make sure that we support vulnerable families and we support families who need assistance to look after their children appropriately. However, there will always be times - we see them more and more in our community - when children have to be taken from their parents and put into care. That is a sad thing about our community. This issue is above politics. We have to understand that this is a problem for all of us to solve. It is a community-wide problem. Everybody in this community has a responsibility to ensure that our children are protected and given the best possible start in life and the best possible chance to thrive. I will keep on working to ensure that we have the best child protection policies that we possibly can to protect our kids. That is being supported by the increase in dollars which will mean an increase in staff on the ground.
(1) When will the minister recognise that simply throwing money at problems such as this will not resolve the fundamental systemic failings that cause them? (2) Why does the minister refuse to establish a royal commission to thoroughly investigate these failings and recommend meaningful changes, and what has he and his government got to hide? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) The question gives me another opportunity to highlight the work that this government has done on child protection in this state. It is very important that the member understand, because he does not have an understanding, that this government has introduced a raft of legislation that underpins the child protection system in this state. The coalition government did nothing to amend any legislation, introduce legislation or attempt to make sure that outdated legislation was repealed or amended. We did that. It is interesting that the member highlights the increased number of staff. This government recognises that we need to make sure that there are enough DCD staff in our communities working in the field, and enough caseworkers and psychologists working with vulnerable children and families. We need to make sure that there are more of them. We must all come to this realisation: one of the sad things about modern society - and this is a trend happening in Australia and worldwide - is that unfortunately more children are coming into care. That is a tragedy. It is a tragedy that more children are coming into care. It is a sad fact that too many parents are not able or responsible enough to look after their children. Members should remember that it is the responsibility of the people who bring children into this world to look after those children. We have to make sure that we support vulnerable families and we support families who need assistance to look after their children appropriately. However, there will always be times - we see them more and more in our community - when children have to be taken from their parents and put into care. That is a sad thing about our community. This issue is above politics. We have to understand that this is a problem for all of us to solve. It is a community-wide problem. Everybody in this community has a responsibility to ensure that our children are protected and given the best possible start in life and the best possible chance to thrive. I will keep on working to ensure that we have the best child protection policies that we possibly can to protect our kids. That is being supported by the increase in dollars which will mean an increase in staff on the ground.
(2) Why does the minister refuse to establish a royal commission to thoroughly investigate these failings and recommend meaningful changes, and what has he and his government got to hide? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) The question gives me another opportunity to highlight the work that this government has done on child protection in this state. It is very important that the member understand, because he does not have an understanding, that this government has introduced a raft of legislation that underpins the child protection system in this state. The coalition government did nothing to amend any legislation, introduce legislation or attempt to make sure that outdated legislation was repealed or amended. We did that. It is interesting that the member highlights the increased number of staff. This government recognises that we need to make sure that there are enough DCD staff in our communities working in the field, and enough caseworkers and psychologists working with vulnerable children and families. We need to make sure that there are more of them. We must all come to this realisation: one of the sad things about modern society - and this is a trend happening in Australia and worldwide - is that unfortunately more children are coming into care. That is a tragedy. It is a tragedy that more children are coming into care. It is a sad fact that too many parents are not able or responsible enough to look after their children. Members should remember that it is the responsibility of the people who bring children into this world to look after those children. We have to make sure that we support vulnerable families and we support families who need assistance to look after their children appropriately. However, there will always be times - we see them more and more in our community - when children have to be taken from their parents and put into care. That is a sad thing about our community. This issue is above politics. We have to understand that this is a problem for all of us to solve. It is a community-wide problem. Everybody in this community has a responsibility to ensure that our children are protected and given the best possible start in life and the best possible chance to thrive. I will keep on working to ensure that we have the best child protection policies that we possibly can to protect our kids. That is being supported by the increase in dollars which will mean an increase in staff on the ground.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) The question gives me another opportunity to highlight the work that this government has done on child protection in this state. It is very important that the member understand, because he does not have an understanding, that this government has introduced a raft of legislation that underpins the child protection system in this state. The coalition government did nothing to amend any legislation, introduce legislation or attempt to make sure that outdated legislation was repealed or amended. We did that. It is interesting that the member highlights the increased number of staff. This government recognises that we need to make sure that there are enough DCD staff in our communities working in the field, and enough caseworkers and psychologists working with vulnerable children and families. We need to make sure that there are more of them. We must all come to this realisation: one of the sad things about modern society - and this is a trend happening in Australia and worldwide - is that unfortunately more children are coming into care. That is a tragedy. It is a tragedy that more children are coming into care. It is a sad fact that too many parents are not able or responsible enough to look after their children. Members should remember that it is the responsibility of the people who bring children into this world to look after those children. We have to make sure that we support vulnerable families and we support families who need assistance to look after their children appropriately. However, there will always be times - we see them more and more in our community - when children have to be taken from their parents and put into care. That is a sad thing about our community. This issue is above politics. We have to understand that this is a problem for all of us to solve. It is a community-wide problem. Everybody in this community has a responsibility to ensure that our children are protected and given the best possible start in life and the best possible chance to thrive. I will keep on working to ensure that we have the best child protection policies that we possibly can to protect our kids. That is being supported by the increase in dollars which will mean an increase in staff on the ground.
(1)-(2) The question gives me another opportunity to highlight the work that this government has done on child protection in this state. It is very important that the member understand, because he does not have an understanding, that this government has introduced a raft of legislation that underpins the child protection system in this state. The coalition government did nothing to amend any legislation, introduce legislation or attempt to make sure that outdated legislation was repealed or amended. We did that. It is interesting that the member highlights the increased number of staff. This government recognises that we need to make sure that there are enough DCD staff in our communities working in the field, and enough caseworkers and psychologists working with vulnerable children and families. We need to make sure that there are more of them. We must all come to this realisation: one of the sad things about modern society - and this is a trend happening in Australia and worldwide - is that unfortunately more children are coming into care. That is a tragedy. It is a tragedy that more children are coming into care. It is a sad fact that too many parents are not able or responsible enough to look after their children. Members should remember that it is the responsibility of the people who bring children into this world to look after those children. We have to make sure that we support vulnerable families and we support families who need assistance to look after their children appropriately. However, there will always be times - we see them more and more in our community - when children have to be taken from their parents and put into care. That is a sad thing about our community. This issue is above politics. We have to understand that this is a problem for all of us to solve. It is a community-wide problem. Everybody in this community has a responsibility to ensure that our children are protected and given the best possible start in life and the best possible chance to thrive. I will keep on working to ensure that we have the best child protection policies that we possibly can to protect our kids. That is being supported by the increase in dollars which will mean an increase in staff on the ground.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.