❓ A parliamentary question regarding the notification of mothers entering relationships with convicted paedophiles, and the government's role in ensuring child safety. The Minister acknowledges the question and outlines existing legislative frameworks for information sharing between police and the Department for Community Development.
AnsweredQoN 823Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
REGISTERED PAEDOPHILES - NOTIFICATION TO DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Yesterday, the minister said that he would do everything in his power to ensure that appropriate and necessary information is delivered to whoever needs it so that they can take action to ensure the protection of children in this state. (1) Does the government support the notion that a mother has a right to know that she is potentially placing her children at risk by inadvertently forming a relationship with a convicted paedophile; and, if not, why not? (2) What exactly will the minister do to ensure that police and Department for Community Development staff are able to inform mothers that they are entering a relationship with a paedophile who is on the Australian National Child Offender Register, or were his comments yesterday nothing but lip service to the problem that will do nothing to ensure child safety? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN
Yesterday, the minister said that he would do everything in his power to ensure that appropriate and necessary information is delivered to whoever needs it so that they can take action to ensure the protection of children in this state. (1) Does the government support the notion that a mother has a right to know that she is potentially placing her children at risk by inadvertently forming a relationship with a convicted paedophile; and, if not, why not? (2) What exactly will the minister do to ensure that police and Department for Community Development staff are able to inform mothers that they are entering a relationship with a paedophile who is on the Australian National Child Offender Register, or were his comments yesterday nothing but lip service to the problem that will do nothing to ensure child safety? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. He would know that his question is more appropriately directed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. However, I am able to respond. It is true that when the department becomes aware of such situations through police officers having information, appropriate action is taken to protect children. Section 81 of the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 enables senior police officers to disclose to the department information from the register in keeping with police guidelines. Section 23 of the Children and Community Services Act empowers the Department for Community Development and other agencies, including the Western Australia Police, to share that information. It is the responsibility of the police that, when they have information they believe should be shared with the department, they share that information, and the department should respond appropriately.
(1) Does the government support the notion that a mother has a right to know that she is potentially placing her children at risk by inadvertently forming a relationship with a convicted paedophile; and, if not, why not? (2) What exactly will the minister do to ensure that police and Department for Community Development staff are able to inform mothers that they are entering a relationship with a paedophile who is on the Australian National Child Offender Register, or were his comments yesterday nothing but lip service to the problem that will do nothing to ensure child safety? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. He would know that his question is more appropriately directed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. However, I am able to respond. It is true that when the department becomes aware of such situations through police officers having information, appropriate action is taken to protect children. Section 81 of the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 enables senior police officers to disclose to the department information from the register in keeping with police guidelines. Section 23 of the Children and Community Services Act empowers the Department for Community Development and other agencies, including the Western Australia Police, to share that information. It is the responsibility of the police that, when they have information they believe should be shared with the department, they share that information, and the department should respond appropriately.
(2) What exactly will the minister do to ensure that police and Department for Community Development staff are able to inform mothers that they are entering a relationship with a paedophile who is on the Australian National Child Offender Register, or were his comments yesterday nothing but lip service to the problem that will do nothing to ensure child safety? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. He would know that his question is more appropriately directed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. However, I am able to respond. It is true that when the department becomes aware of such situations through police officers having information, appropriate action is taken to protect children. Section 81 of the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 enables senior police officers to disclose to the department information from the register in keeping with police guidelines. Section 23 of the Children and Community Services Act empowers the Department for Community Development and other agencies, including the Western Australia Police, to share that information. It is the responsibility of the police that, when they have information they believe should be shared with the department, they share that information, and the department should respond appropriately.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. He would know that his question is more appropriately directed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. However, I am able to respond. It is true that when the department becomes aware of such situations through police officers having information, appropriate action is taken to protect children. Section 81 of the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 enables senior police officers to disclose to the department information from the register in keeping with police guidelines. Section 23 of the Children and Community Services Act empowers the Department for Community Development and other agencies, including the Western Australia Police, to share that information. It is the responsibility of the police that, when they have information they believe should be shared with the department, they share that information, and the department should respond appropriately.
(1)-(2) I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. He would know that his question is more appropriately directed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. However, I am able to respond. It is true that when the department becomes aware of such situations through police officers having information, appropriate action is taken to protect children. Section 81 of the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 enables senior police officers to disclose to the department information from the register in keeping with police guidelines. Section 23 of the Children and Community Services Act empowers the Department for Community Development and other agencies, including the Western Australia Police, to share that information. It is the responsibility of the police that, when they have information they believe should be shared with the department, they share that information, and the department should respond appropriately.
(1) Does the government support the notion that a mother has a right to know that she is potentially placing her children at risk by inadvertently forming a relationship with a convicted paedophile; and, if not, why not? (2) What exactly will the minister do to ensure that police and Department for Community Development staff are able to inform mothers that they are entering a relationship with a paedophile who is on the Australian National Child Offender Register, or were his comments yesterday nothing but lip service to the problem that will do nothing to ensure child safety? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. He would know that his question is more appropriately directed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. However, I am able to respond. It is true that when the department becomes aware of such situations through police officers having information, appropriate action is taken to protect children. Section 81 of the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 enables senior police officers to disclose to the department information from the register in keeping with police guidelines. Section 23 of the Children and Community Services Act empowers the Department for Community Development and other agencies, including the Western Australia Police, to share that information. It is the responsibility of the police that, when they have information they believe should be shared with the department, they share that information, and the department should respond appropriately.
(2) What exactly will the minister do to ensure that police and Department for Community Development staff are able to inform mothers that they are entering a relationship with a paedophile who is on the Australian National Child Offender Register, or were his comments yesterday nothing but lip service to the problem that will do nothing to ensure child safety? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. He would know that his question is more appropriately directed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. However, I am able to respond. It is true that when the department becomes aware of such situations through police officers having information, appropriate action is taken to protect children. Section 81 of the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 enables senior police officers to disclose to the department information from the register in keeping with police guidelines. Section 23 of the Children and Community Services Act empowers the Department for Community Development and other agencies, including the Western Australia Police, to share that information. It is the responsibility of the police that, when they have information they believe should be shared with the department, they share that information, and the department should respond appropriately.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. He would know that his question is more appropriately directed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. However, I am able to respond. It is true that when the department becomes aware of such situations through police officers having information, appropriate action is taken to protect children. Section 81 of the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 enables senior police officers to disclose to the department information from the register in keeping with police guidelines. Section 23 of the Children and Community Services Act empowers the Department for Community Development and other agencies, including the Western Australia Police, to share that information. It is the responsibility of the police that, when they have information they believe should be shared with the department, they share that information, and the department should respond appropriately.
(1)-(2) I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. He would know that his question is more appropriately directed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. However, I am able to respond. It is true that when the department becomes aware of such situations through police officers having information, appropriate action is taken to protect children. Section 81 of the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 enables senior police officers to disclose to the department information from the register in keeping with police guidelines. Section 23 of the Children and Community Services Act empowers the Department for Community Development and other agencies, including the Western Australia Police, to share that information. It is the responsibility of the police that, when they have information they believe should be shared with the department, they share that information, and the department should respond appropriately.
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