❓ Question regarding child protection policies, specifically why children who are sexually abused but do not contract STIs are allegedly denied protection. The Minister refutes the premise, defends the government's approach, and criticizes mandatory reporting.
AnsweredQoN 386Legislative Assembly
Asked
24 June 2004
Member
Portfolio
Community Development, Women’s
Interests, Seniors and Youth
QuestionView source ↗
I ask a supplementary question. Why should hundreds of sexually abused children be denied protection just because they do not contract a sexually transmitted disease? Ms S.M. McHALE
AnswerView source ↗
The fundamental premise of the question is absolutely flawed. This is a political - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: Point number one is that the Government is absolutely committed to child protection and to improving the protective services and protective systems for children. Point number two is that following the very tragic death of Susan Taylor, we initiated the Gordon inquiry in 2001, which pointed to a crisis of sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities. We followed up on that coroner’s inquiry with the Gordon report. Members know the recommendations in the Gordon report. As a consequence of that report, we have invested $73 million over four years to tackle this crisis. Thirdly, the Opposition has made its position on mandatory reporting very clear: it supports it. We have made our position very clear: we do not support mandatory reporting as a child protection system because there is no evidence that it improves the quality of life for children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: The fundamental premise of the question is absolutely flawed. This is a political - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: Point number one is that the Government is absolutely committed to child protection and to improving the protective services and protective systems for children. Point number two is that following the very tragic death of Susan Taylor, we initiated the Gordon inquiry in 2001, which pointed to a crisis of sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities. We followed up on that coroner’s inquiry with the Gordon report. Members know the recommendations in the Gordon report. As a consequence of that report, we have invested $73 million over four years to tackle this crisis. Thirdly, the Opposition has made its position on mandatory reporting very clear: it supports it. We have made our position very clear: we do not support mandatory reporting as a child protection system because there is no evidence that it improves the quality of life for children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
The fundamental premise of the question is absolutely flawed. This is a political - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: Point number one is that the Government is absolutely committed to child protection and to improving the protective services and protective systems for children. Point number two is that following the very tragic death of Susan Taylor, we initiated the Gordon inquiry in 2001, which pointed to a crisis of sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities. We followed up on that coroner’s inquiry with the Gordon report. Members know the recommendations in the Gordon report. As a consequence of that report, we have invested $73 million over four years to tackle this crisis. Thirdly, the Opposition has made its position on mandatory reporting very clear: it supports it. We have made our position very clear: we do not support mandatory reporting as a child protection system because there is no evidence that it improves the quality of life for children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: Point number one is that the Government is absolutely committed to child protection and to improving the protective services and protective systems for children. Point number two is that following the very tragic death of Susan Taylor, we initiated the Gordon inquiry in 2001, which pointed to a crisis of sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities. We followed up on that coroner’s inquiry with the Gordon report. Members know the recommendations in the Gordon report. As a consequence of that report, we have invested $73 million over four years to tackle this crisis. Thirdly, the Opposition has made its position on mandatory reporting very clear: it supports it. We have made our position very clear: we do not support mandatory reporting as a child protection system because there is no evidence that it improves the quality of life for children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: Point number one is that the Government is absolutely committed to child protection and to improving the protective services and protective systems for children. Point number two is that following the very tragic death of Susan Taylor, we initiated the Gordon inquiry in 2001, which pointed to a crisis of sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities. We followed up on that coroner’s inquiry with the Gordon report. Members know the recommendations in the Gordon report. As a consequence of that report, we have invested $73 million over four years to tackle this crisis. Thirdly, the Opposition has made its position on mandatory reporting very clear: it supports it. We have made our position very clear: we do not support mandatory reporting as a child protection system because there is no evidence that it improves the quality of life for children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
Ms S.M. McHALE: Point number one is that the Government is absolutely committed to child protection and to improving the protective services and protective systems for children. Point number two is that following the very tragic death of Susan Taylor, we initiated the Gordon inquiry in 2001, which pointed to a crisis of sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities. We followed up on that coroner’s inquiry with the Gordon report. Members know the recommendations in the Gordon report. As a consequence of that report, we have invested $73 million over four years to tackle this crisis. Thirdly, the Opposition has made its position on mandatory reporting very clear: it supports it. We have made our position very clear: we do not support mandatory reporting as a child protection system because there is no evidence that it improves the quality of life for children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: The fundamental premise of the question is absolutely flawed. This is a political - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: Point number one is that the Government is absolutely committed to child protection and to improving the protective services and protective systems for children. Point number two is that following the very tragic death of Susan Taylor, we initiated the Gordon inquiry in 2001, which pointed to a crisis of sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities. We followed up on that coroner’s inquiry with the Gordon report. Members know the recommendations in the Gordon report. As a consequence of that report, we have invested $73 million over four years to tackle this crisis. Thirdly, the Opposition has made its position on mandatory reporting very clear: it supports it. We have made our position very clear: we do not support mandatory reporting as a child protection system because there is no evidence that it improves the quality of life for children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
The fundamental premise of the question is absolutely flawed. This is a political - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: Point number one is that the Government is absolutely committed to child protection and to improving the protective services and protective systems for children. Point number two is that following the very tragic death of Susan Taylor, we initiated the Gordon inquiry in 2001, which pointed to a crisis of sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities. We followed up on that coroner’s inquiry with the Gordon report. Members know the recommendations in the Gordon report. As a consequence of that report, we have invested $73 million over four years to tackle this crisis. Thirdly, the Opposition has made its position on mandatory reporting very clear: it supports it. We have made our position very clear: we do not support mandatory reporting as a child protection system because there is no evidence that it improves the quality of life for children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: Point number one is that the Government is absolutely committed to child protection and to improving the protective services and protective systems for children. Point number two is that following the very tragic death of Susan Taylor, we initiated the Gordon inquiry in 2001, which pointed to a crisis of sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities. We followed up on that coroner’s inquiry with the Gordon report. Members know the recommendations in the Gordon report. As a consequence of that report, we have invested $73 million over four years to tackle this crisis. Thirdly, the Opposition has made its position on mandatory reporting very clear: it supports it. We have made our position very clear: we do not support mandatory reporting as a child protection system because there is no evidence that it improves the quality of life for children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: Point number one is that the Government is absolutely committed to child protection and to improving the protective services and protective systems for children. Point number two is that following the very tragic death of Susan Taylor, we initiated the Gordon inquiry in 2001, which pointed to a crisis of sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities. We followed up on that coroner’s inquiry with the Gordon report. Members know the recommendations in the Gordon report. As a consequence of that report, we have invested $73 million over four years to tackle this crisis. Thirdly, the Opposition has made its position on mandatory reporting very clear: it supports it. We have made our position very clear: we do not support mandatory reporting as a child protection system because there is no evidence that it improves the quality of life for children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
Ms S.M. McHALE: Point number one is that the Government is absolutely committed to child protection and to improving the protective services and protective systems for children. Point number two is that following the very tragic death of Susan Taylor, we initiated the Gordon inquiry in 2001, which pointed to a crisis of sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities. We followed up on that coroner’s inquiry with the Gordon report. Members know the recommendations in the Gordon report. As a consequence of that report, we have invested $73 million over four years to tackle this crisis. Thirdly, the Opposition has made its position on mandatory reporting very clear: it supports it. We have made our position very clear: we do not support mandatory reporting as a child protection system because there is no evidence that it improves the quality of life for children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
Ms S.M. McHALE: In support of what I have just said and as the Opposition has an obligation to substantiate its policies with evidence, I refer the Opposition to the New South Wales statistics for 1999-2000 compared with those of Western Australia. The rate of substantiated investigations in New South Wales was 21 per cent and 44 per cent in Western Australia. The rate of notified cases not investigated in New South Wales was 40 per cent - that is not a child protection system - and 2.6 per cent in Western Australia. There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
There is a sound body of research now, which was not available when mandatory reporting was first introduced, that indicates there is no evidence that mandatory reporting supports child protection. It is counterproductive and in certain circumstances can have disastrous consequences for the very children whom our Government is concerned about; that is, the ones who are vulnerable and at risk.
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