❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice from 2005 regarding the implementation and funding of the Labor Party's policy to protect children from sex offenders, with a focus on legislation, resources, and law enforcement activities. The answer only addresses the implementation of the Working with Children Act and funding for the Department for Community Development.
AnsweredQoN 2534Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Minister to the Labor Party policy entitled ‘LABOR’S PLAN TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM SEX OFFENDERS’, and I ask -
(1) Why has no additional money been allocated as part of this policy?
(2) How many people have been jailed since the introduction of increased jail terms for those who organise ‘sex tours’?
(3) How many travel agents have received lifetime bans for being involved in organising ‘sex tours’ since the introduction of this penalty?
(4) When will the provisions of the
Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004
, including the proposed ‘child card’ come into effect?
(5) When is it anticipated that legislation will be introduced and enacted to provide for the indefinite detention of convicted child sex offenders on completion of their sentence, if it is considered that there is a significant risk of them re-offending?
(6) When is it anticipated that legislation will be introduced and enacted to detain those serious and repeat sex offenders who have a dangerous and severe personality disorder?
(7) When is it anticipated that the Government will amend the
Criminal Code
to make it an offence to use the internet to attempt to lure a child for sexual encounters, or expose them to indecent material?
(8) When is it anticipated that specialist investigators will be empowered to pose as children and establish trust with suspects over the internet, in order to gather evidence against them?
(9) What funding will be provided for these activities?
(10) When is it anticipated that the Government will amend the
Criminal Code
to overcome the technical difficulties which can arise in gathering evidence from computers?
(11) When is it anticipated that the Government will amend legislation to ensure that there are harsh penalties for child sex offenders who make, distribute, or knowingly possess child exploitation material?
(12) When will the Government advance amendments to prescribe the electronic recording of offences including indecent dealings, indecent acts, sexual penetration and procuring a child to engage in sexual behaviour as a circumstance of aggravation, which attracts up to 20 years imprisonment?
(13) When will the Government enact provisions in the
Criminal Code
which will prohibit the possession and supply of child pornography and will increase associated penalties?
(14) What additional resources will the Government provide to law enforcement agencies and the Department for Community Development to identify, investigate, arrest and imprison child sex offenders?
(1) Why has no additional money been allocated as part of this policy?
(2) How many people have been jailed since the introduction of increased jail terms for those who organise ‘sex tours’?
(3) How many travel agents have received lifetime bans for being involved in organising ‘sex tours’ since the introduction of this penalty?
(4) When will the provisions of the
Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004
, including the proposed ‘child card’ come into effect?
(5) When is it anticipated that legislation will be introduced and enacted to provide for the indefinite detention of convicted child sex offenders on completion of their sentence, if it is considered that there is a significant risk of them re-offending?
(6) When is it anticipated that legislation will be introduced and enacted to detain those serious and repeat sex offenders who have a dangerous and severe personality disorder?
(7) When is it anticipated that the Government will amend the
Criminal Code
to make it an offence to use the internet to attempt to lure a child for sexual encounters, or expose them to indecent material?
(8) When is it anticipated that specialist investigators will be empowered to pose as children and establish trust with suspects over the internet, in order to gather evidence against them?
(9) What funding will be provided for these activities?
(10) When is it anticipated that the Government will amend the
Criminal Code
to overcome the technical difficulties which can arise in gathering evidence from computers?
(11) When is it anticipated that the Government will amend legislation to ensure that there are harsh penalties for child sex offenders who make, distribute, or knowingly possess child exploitation material?
(12) When will the Government advance amendments to prescribe the electronic recording of offences including indecent dealings, indecent acts, sexual penetration and procuring a child to engage in sexual behaviour as a circumstance of aggravation, which attracts up to 20 years imprisonment?
(13) When will the Government enact provisions in the
Criminal Code
which will prohibit the possession and supply of child pornography and will increase associated penalties?
(14) What additional resources will the Government provide to law enforcement agencies and the Department for Community Development to identify, investigate, arrest and imprison child sex offenders?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 September 2005
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Community Development
Response time
21 days
( 4) It is planned that the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 will come into effect on 1 January 2006 and be phased-in over a five year period for different groups working with children in WA. Production of the Criminal History Evaluation Card will commence at that time and be issued to applicants whose Working with Children Check is successful. (14) The Department for Community Development has been allocated an additional $2.4m in the 05/06 year to screen and identify people who may potentially cause harm to children.The Department's policy is to report all allegations of child sexual abuse to the police. The Department works with the police under the Joint Approach to Child Abuse protocol to ensure the most appropriate protective response to the child and to ensure criminal investigations are not compromised. Through the joint DCD/Police Specialist Child Interviewing Unit collaborative interviewing and video recording of the evidence of child victims is undertaken for the collection of forensic evidence for use in court and to minimise harm to a child through repeated interviewing
(14) The Department for Community Development has been allocated an additional $2.4m in the 05/06 year to screen and identify people who may potentially cause harm to children.The Department's policy is to report all allegations of child sexual abuse to the police. The Department works with the police under the Joint Approach to Child Abuse protocol to ensure the most appropriate protective response to the child and to ensure criminal investigations are not compromised. Through the joint DCD/Police Specialist Child Interviewing Unit collaborative interviewing and video recording of the evidence of child victims is undertaken for the collection of forensic evidence for use in court and to minimise harm to a child through repeated interviewing
(14) The Department for Community Development has been allocated an additional $2.4m in the 05/06 year to screen and identify people who may potentially cause harm to children.The Department's policy is to report all allegations of child sexual abuse to the police. The Department works with the police under the Joint Approach to Child Abuse protocol to ensure the most appropriate protective response to the child and to ensure criminal investigations are not compromised. Through the joint DCD/Police Specialist Child Interviewing Unit collaborative interviewing and video recording of the evidence of child victims is undertaken for the collection of forensic evidence for use in court and to minimise harm to a child through repeated interviewing
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