❓ Mr. Katsambanis questions the Minister for Child Protection regarding the lack of a full-scale investigation into sex offenders accessing children. The Minister defends existing systems and encourages reporting of concerns.
AnsweredQoN 1067Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WORKING WITH CHILDREN
CHECKS — AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT
1067. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Minister for Child Protection:
I have a supplementary question.
Why has the minister not activated a full-scale investigation, given so many
charged or convicted sex offenders have had access to Western Australian
children over significant periods of time, including potentially in very
intimate circumstances?
CHECKS — AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT
1067. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Minister for Child Protection:
I have a supplementary question.
Why has the minister not activated a full-scale investigation, given so many
charged or convicted sex offenders have had access to Western Australian
children over significant periods of time, including potentially in very
intimate circumstances?
AnswerView source ↗
I am not aware that there have been
any issues raised about the safety of those children in the workplaces or
voluntary organisations in which people may have done volunteer or paid work.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms S.F. McGURK : However, if
the member or anyone in this chamber, but certainly from the other side, has
any concerns, I would be willing to pursue them. In fact, I urge the
member to get in touch with the police if he thinks
there is any evidence or areas of concern. We have systems in place now to
ensure that people have working with children check cards when they do a
range of child-related work or have exposure to children. About 360 000 people
have working with children check cards in this state. I have always said that
just because someone has a working with children check card does not mean that
we all should not still be vigilant about child safety—whether people
have a card or do not. It is one measure to keep children safe; however, it is
not a fail-safe measure. I reject the assertion that there have not been
systems in place previously to keep children safe, but this system is
constantly being improved. I accept the Auditor General's
recommendations that there be increased use of interim negative notices to make
sure that if there is any risk, if there is any criminal past, if there is any
area of risk, it should be used as a default while people's
applications are being processed.
any issues raised about the safety of those children in the workplaces or
voluntary organisations in which people may have done volunteer or paid work.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms S.F. McGURK : However, if
the member or anyone in this chamber, but certainly from the other side, has
any concerns, I would be willing to pursue them. In fact, I urge the
member to get in touch with the police if he thinks
there is any evidence or areas of concern. We have systems in place now to
ensure that people have working with children check cards when they do a
range of child-related work or have exposure to children. About 360 000 people
have working with children check cards in this state. I have always said that
just because someone has a working with children check card does not mean that
we all should not still be vigilant about child safety—whether people
have a card or do not. It is one measure to keep children safe; however, it is
not a fail-safe measure. I reject the assertion that there have not been
systems in place previously to keep children safe, but this system is
constantly being improved. I accept the Auditor General's
recommendations that there be increased use of interim negative notices to make
sure that if there is any risk, if there is any criminal past, if there is any
area of risk, it should be used as a default while people's
applications are being processed.
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