❓ Mr. Love questions the Minister for Community Services about the slow rollout of the Target 120 program, particularly in areas with high arrest rates. The Minister defends the program, highlighting its successes and ongoing expansion, while acknowledging her predecessor's work.
AnsweredQoN 56Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TARGET 120 SITES
56. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Community Services:
Noting the absence of the Premier, I
think it has thrown our questions into a bit of a mess.
It is the first time I have asked a question
of the minister, so I will take this opportunity to congratulate her on her
appointment. I look forward to her making a contribution to the state.
I refer to questions on notice that
have revealed that the rolling out of Target 120 pales in comparison with what was promised in May, with the example of just one
family being assisted in Broome at a time when the town recorded the
highest number of arrests in the region, and other locations, such as Carnarvon
and Halls Creek, yet to receive any support. Given that nine additional
locations were promised under Target 120 nearly a year ago, why has the program
not yet commenced in all but one of them?
56. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Community Services:
Noting the absence of the Premier, I
think it has thrown our questions into a bit of a mess.
It is the first time I have asked a question
of the minister, so I will take this opportunity to congratulate her on her
appointment. I look forward to her making a contribution to the state.
I refer to questions on notice that
have revealed that the rolling out of Target 120 pales in comparison with what was promised in May, with the example of just one
family being assisted in Broome at a time when the town recorded the
highest number of arrests in the region, and other locations, such as Carnarvon
and Halls Creek, yet to receive any support. Given that nine additional
locations were promised under Target 120 nearly a year ago, why has the program
not yet commenced in all but one of them?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the Leader of the Opposition for my first question as Minister for
Community Services. Before I begin, I also take this opportunity to
publicly acknowledge my predecessor in my important portfolios, Hon Simone
McGurk, who did an incredible job over six years serving the community in what
are challenging but the most important portfolios that any minister can hold.
Under her stewardship of these portfolios, we saw record reforms, record
investment and an example of stakeholder engagement with broad sections of the
community sector that I am in awe of. I have very big shoes to fill. I just
wanted to put that on the record.
As
the Leader of the Opposition knows, Target 120 is an incredibly important
program of the McGowan government . Since 2018, we have invested some
$31.5 million into this important program, which seeks to provide early
intervention into complex issues that we are seeing right around the state and,
in fact, right around Australia. I am very proud of what Target 120 hopes to
achieve—that is, to work in partnership with vulnerable and at-risk
young people who are at risk of coming into contact with the juvenile justice
system and to try to intervene early in partnership with families to make a difference.
We know that Target 120 is making a difference, with statistics showing that
just on half of the participants in the Target 120 program are not coming into
contact with the juvenile system. That is something to be applauded and that is
something that we are going to continue to promote, build on and invest in to
make sure that Target 120 grows.
From the beginnings of 11 places
rolled out by Target 120 around the state, we made further commitments, and it
is now being rolled out in 20 locations across the state. Interestingly, it is
important to recognise that the majority of those locations are in regional
areas where we hear there are problems and complex issues around our youth. I am
very proud of that fact. We will continue to roll out Target 120. I know it is
successful. It is challenging and difficult work but the way to make a difference
is by working with Aboriginal families in partnership with them. The early
indicators are that this is the way we will continue.
thank the Leader of the Opposition for my first question as Minister for
Community Services. Before I begin, I also take this opportunity to
publicly acknowledge my predecessor in my important portfolios, Hon Simone
McGurk, who did an incredible job over six years serving the community in what
are challenging but the most important portfolios that any minister can hold.
Under her stewardship of these portfolios, we saw record reforms, record
investment and an example of stakeholder engagement with broad sections of the
community sector that I am in awe of. I have very big shoes to fill. I just
wanted to put that on the record.
As
the Leader of the Opposition knows, Target 120 is an incredibly important
program of the McGowan government . Since 2018, we have invested some
$31.5 million into this important program, which seeks to provide early
intervention into complex issues that we are seeing right around the state and,
in fact, right around Australia. I am very proud of what Target 120 hopes to
achieve—that is, to work in partnership with vulnerable and at-risk
young people who are at risk of coming into contact with the juvenile justice
system and to try to intervene early in partnership with families to make a difference.
We know that Target 120 is making a difference, with statistics showing that
just on half of the participants in the Target 120 program are not coming into
contact with the juvenile system. That is something to be applauded and that is
something that we are going to continue to promote, build on and invest in to
make sure that Target 120 grows.
From the beginnings of 11 places
rolled out by Target 120 around the state, we made further commitments, and it
is now being rolled out in 20 locations across the state. Interestingly, it is
important to recognise that the majority of those locations are in regional
areas where we hear there are problems and complex issues around our youth. I am
very proud of that fact. We will continue to roll out Target 120. I know it is
successful. It is challenging and difficult work but the way to make a difference
is by working with Aboriginal families in partnership with them. The early
indicators are that this is the way we will continue.
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