❓ Question regarding key points raised in a petition by Department for Community Development staff. The Minister's response initially avoids directly addressing the petition's content, focusing instead on the government's investment in the area and criticising the previous government's record.
AnsweredQoN 692Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the petition signed by a large number of Department for Community Development staff at a crisis meeting held on 2 November in East Perth. What were the key points made by the minister’s staff on that petition? Ms S.M. McHALE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question and for an opportunity to once again report to the house on the usefulness of that meeting. Several key points were raised. Mr M.J. Birney : What was in the petition? Ms S.M. McHALE : Firstly, there was an acknowledgment that our government has invested significant amounts of money; in fact, record amounts of money in this area. The meeting also afforded an opportunity for me to indicate that in regard to child care, which is part of the resolution, the government has increased the number of staff from 12 permanent staff to 24. It is interesting that the opposition wants to persist with this line. I can report to the house once again that when the Labor Party came into government it inherited a very neglected area of government services. I can report also that the investment by the previous government in child protection was $17 per child. We increased that in 2003-04 to $40 per child and this year it will be increased to $52. More importantly, I refer to out-of-home care, which is a very important delivery of services to vulnerable children. Point of Order Dr G.G. JACOBS : The minister is not answering the question. The SPEAKER : That is usually the attitude of people who ask questions during question time. The minister is answering the question but perhaps not how the member for Roe would like her to answer it. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : My point of order is to the issue of relevance. The question was specifically about the points made on a petition. The minister is now waffling away on another theme. There is a standing order that deals with the issue of relevance; therefore, I urge you, Mr Speaker, to draw that to the to the minister’s attention. The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question and for an opportunity to once again report to the house on the usefulness of that meeting. Several key points were raised. Mr M.J. Birney : What was in the petition? Ms S.M. McHALE : Firstly, there was an acknowledgment that our government has invested significant amounts of money; in fact, record amounts of money in this area. The meeting also afforded an opportunity for me to indicate that in regard to child care, which is part of the resolution, the government has increased the number of staff from 12 permanent staff to 24. It is interesting that the opposition wants to persist with this line. I can report to the house once again that when the Labor Party came into government it inherited a very neglected area of government services. I can report also that the investment by the previous government in child protection was $17 per child. We increased that in 2003-04 to $40 per child and this year it will be increased to $52. More importantly, I refer to out-of-home care, which is a very important delivery of services to vulnerable children. Point of Order Dr G.G. JACOBS : The minister is not answering the question. The SPEAKER : That is usually the attitude of people who ask questions during question time. The minister is answering the question but perhaps not how the member for Roe would like her to answer it. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : My point of order is to the issue of relevance. The question was specifically about the points made on a petition. The minister is now waffling away on another theme. There is a standing order that deals with the issue of relevance; therefore, I urge you, Mr Speaker, to draw that to the to the minister’s attention. The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question and for an opportunity to once again report to the house on the usefulness of that meeting. Several key points were raised. Mr M.J. Birney : What was in the petition? Ms S.M. McHALE : Firstly, there was an acknowledgment that our government has invested significant amounts of money; in fact, record amounts of money in this area. The meeting also afforded an opportunity for me to indicate that in regard to child care, which is part of the resolution, the government has increased the number of staff from 12 permanent staff to 24. It is interesting that the opposition wants to persist with this line. I can report to the house once again that when the Labor Party came into government it inherited a very neglected area of government services. I can report also that the investment by the previous government in child protection was $17 per child. We increased that in 2003-04 to $40 per child and this year it will be increased to $52. More importantly, I refer to out-of-home care, which is a very important delivery of services to vulnerable children. Point of Order Dr G.G. JACOBS : The minister is not answering the question. The SPEAKER : That is usually the attitude of people who ask questions during question time. The minister is answering the question but perhaps not how the member for Roe would like her to answer it. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : My point of order is to the issue of relevance. The question was specifically about the points made on a petition. The minister is now waffling away on another theme. There is a standing order that deals with the issue of relevance; therefore, I urge you, Mr Speaker, to draw that to the to the minister’s attention. The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
Mr M.J. Birney : What was in the petition? Ms S.M. McHALE : Firstly, there was an acknowledgment that our government has invested significant amounts of money; in fact, record amounts of money in this area. The meeting also afforded an opportunity for me to indicate that in regard to child care, which is part of the resolution, the government has increased the number of staff from 12 permanent staff to 24. It is interesting that the opposition wants to persist with this line. I can report to the house once again that when the Labor Party came into government it inherited a very neglected area of government services. I can report also that the investment by the previous government in child protection was $17 per child. We increased that in 2003-04 to $40 per child and this year it will be increased to $52. More importantly, I refer to out-of-home care, which is a very important delivery of services to vulnerable children. Point of Order Dr G.G. JACOBS : The minister is not answering the question. The SPEAKER : That is usually the attitude of people who ask questions during question time. The minister is answering the question but perhaps not how the member for Roe would like her to answer it. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : My point of order is to the issue of relevance. The question was specifically about the points made on a petition. The minister is now waffling away on another theme. There is a standing order that deals with the issue of relevance; therefore, I urge you, Mr Speaker, to draw that to the to the minister’s attention. The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
Ms S.M. McHALE : Firstly, there was an acknowledgment that our government has invested significant amounts of money; in fact, record amounts of money in this area. The meeting also afforded an opportunity for me to indicate that in regard to child care, which is part of the resolution, the government has increased the number of staff from 12 permanent staff to 24. It is interesting that the opposition wants to persist with this line. I can report to the house once again that when the Labor Party came into government it inherited a very neglected area of government services. I can report also that the investment by the previous government in child protection was $17 per child. We increased that in 2003-04 to $40 per child and this year it will be increased to $52. More importantly, I refer to out-of-home care, which is a very important delivery of services to vulnerable children. Point of Order Dr G.G. JACOBS : The minister is not answering the question. The SPEAKER : That is usually the attitude of people who ask questions during question time. The minister is answering the question but perhaps not how the member for Roe would like her to answer it. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : My point of order is to the issue of relevance. The question was specifically about the points made on a petition. The minister is now waffling away on another theme. There is a standing order that deals with the issue of relevance; therefore, I urge you, Mr Speaker, to draw that to the to the minister’s attention. The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
It is interesting that the opposition wants to persist with this line. I can report to the house once again that when the Labor Party came into government it inherited a very neglected area of government services. I can report also that the investment by the previous government in child protection was $17 per child. We increased that in 2003-04 to $40 per child and this year it will be increased to $52. More importantly, I refer to out-of-home care, which is a very important delivery of services to vulnerable children. Point of Order Dr G.G. JACOBS : The minister is not answering the question. The SPEAKER : That is usually the attitude of people who ask questions during question time. The minister is answering the question but perhaps not how the member for Roe would like her to answer it. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : My point of order is to the issue of relevance. The question was specifically about the points made on a petition. The minister is now waffling away on another theme. There is a standing order that deals with the issue of relevance; therefore, I urge you, Mr Speaker, to draw that to the to the minister’s attention. The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
The SPEAKER : That is usually the attitude of people who ask questions during question time. The minister is answering the question but perhaps not how the member for Roe would like her to answer it. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : My point of order is to the issue of relevance. The question was specifically about the points made on a petition. The minister is now waffling away on another theme. There is a standing order that deals with the issue of relevance; therefore, I urge you, Mr Speaker, to draw that to the to the minister’s attention. The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
Mr M.J. BIRNEY : My point of order is to the issue of relevance. The question was specifically about the points made on a petition. The minister is now waffling away on another theme. There is a standing order that deals with the issue of relevance; therefore, I urge you, Mr Speaker, to draw that to the to the minister’s attention. The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question and for an opportunity to once again report to the house on the usefulness of that meeting. Several key points were raised. Mr M.J. Birney : What was in the petition? Ms S.M. McHALE : Firstly, there was an acknowledgment that our government has invested significant amounts of money; in fact, record amounts of money in this area. The meeting also afforded an opportunity for me to indicate that in regard to child care, which is part of the resolution, the government has increased the number of staff from 12 permanent staff to 24. It is interesting that the opposition wants to persist with this line. I can report to the house once again that when the Labor Party came into government it inherited a very neglected area of government services. I can report also that the investment by the previous government in child protection was $17 per child. We increased that in 2003-04 to $40 per child and this year it will be increased to $52. More importantly, I refer to out-of-home care, which is a very important delivery of services to vulnerable children. Point of Order Dr G.G. JACOBS : The minister is not answering the question. The SPEAKER : That is usually the attitude of people who ask questions during question time. The minister is answering the question but perhaps not how the member for Roe would like her to answer it. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : My point of order is to the issue of relevance. The question was specifically about the points made on a petition. The minister is now waffling away on another theme. There is a standing order that deals with the issue of relevance; therefore, I urge you, Mr Speaker, to draw that to the to the minister’s attention. The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question and for an opportunity to once again report to the house on the usefulness of that meeting. Several key points were raised. Mr M.J. Birney : What was in the petition? Ms S.M. McHALE : Firstly, there was an acknowledgment that our government has invested significant amounts of money; in fact, record amounts of money in this area. The meeting also afforded an opportunity for me to indicate that in regard to child care, which is part of the resolution, the government has increased the number of staff from 12 permanent staff to 24. It is interesting that the opposition wants to persist with this line. I can report to the house once again that when the Labor Party came into government it inherited a very neglected area of government services. I can report also that the investment by the previous government in child protection was $17 per child. We increased that in 2003-04 to $40 per child and this year it will be increased to $52. More importantly, I refer to out-of-home care, which is a very important delivery of services to vulnerable children. Point of Order Dr G.G. JACOBS : The minister is not answering the question. The SPEAKER : That is usually the attitude of people who ask questions during question time. The minister is answering the question but perhaps not how the member for Roe would like her to answer it. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : My point of order is to the issue of relevance. The question was specifically about the points made on a petition. The minister is now waffling away on another theme. There is a standing order that deals with the issue of relevance; therefore, I urge you, Mr Speaker, to draw that to the to the minister’s attention. The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
Mr M.J. Birney : What was in the petition? Ms S.M. McHALE : Firstly, there was an acknowledgment that our government has invested significant amounts of money; in fact, record amounts of money in this area. The meeting also afforded an opportunity for me to indicate that in regard to child care, which is part of the resolution, the government has increased the number of staff from 12 permanent staff to 24. It is interesting that the opposition wants to persist with this line. I can report to the house once again that when the Labor Party came into government it inherited a very neglected area of government services. I can report also that the investment by the previous government in child protection was $17 per child. We increased that in 2003-04 to $40 per child and this year it will be increased to $52. More importantly, I refer to out-of-home care, which is a very important delivery of services to vulnerable children. Point of Order Dr G.G. JACOBS : The minister is not answering the question. The SPEAKER : That is usually the attitude of people who ask questions during question time. The minister is answering the question but perhaps not how the member for Roe would like her to answer it. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : My point of order is to the issue of relevance. The question was specifically about the points made on a petition. The minister is now waffling away on another theme. There is a standing order that deals with the issue of relevance; therefore, I urge you, Mr Speaker, to draw that to the to the minister’s attention. The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
Ms S.M. McHALE : Firstly, there was an acknowledgment that our government has invested significant amounts of money; in fact, record amounts of money in this area. The meeting also afforded an opportunity for me to indicate that in regard to child care, which is part of the resolution, the government has increased the number of staff from 12 permanent staff to 24. It is interesting that the opposition wants to persist with this line. I can report to the house once again that when the Labor Party came into government it inherited a very neglected area of government services. I can report also that the investment by the previous government in child protection was $17 per child. We increased that in 2003-04 to $40 per child and this year it will be increased to $52. More importantly, I refer to out-of-home care, which is a very important delivery of services to vulnerable children. Point of Order Dr G.G. JACOBS : The minister is not answering the question. The SPEAKER : That is usually the attitude of people who ask questions during question time. The minister is answering the question but perhaps not how the member for Roe would like her to answer it. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : My point of order is to the issue of relevance. The question was specifically about the points made on a petition. The minister is now waffling away on another theme. There is a standing order that deals with the issue of relevance; therefore, I urge you, Mr Speaker, to draw that to the to the minister’s attention. The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
It is interesting that the opposition wants to persist with this line. I can report to the house once again that when the Labor Party came into government it inherited a very neglected area of government services. I can report also that the investment by the previous government in child protection was $17 per child. We increased that in 2003-04 to $40 per child and this year it will be increased to $52. More importantly, I refer to out-of-home care, which is a very important delivery of services to vulnerable children. Point of Order Dr G.G. JACOBS : The minister is not answering the question. The SPEAKER : That is usually the attitude of people who ask questions during question time. The minister is answering the question but perhaps not how the member for Roe would like her to answer it. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : My point of order is to the issue of relevance. The question was specifically about the points made on a petition. The minister is now waffling away on another theme. There is a standing order that deals with the issue of relevance; therefore, I urge you, Mr Speaker, to draw that to the to the minister’s attention. The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
The SPEAKER : That is usually the attitude of people who ask questions during question time. The minister is answering the question but perhaps not how the member for Roe would like her to answer it. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : My point of order is to the issue of relevance. The question was specifically about the points made on a petition. The minister is now waffling away on another theme. There is a standing order that deals with the issue of relevance; therefore, I urge you, Mr Speaker, to draw that to the to the minister’s attention. The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
Mr M.J. BIRNEY : My point of order is to the issue of relevance. The question was specifically about the points made on a petition. The minister is now waffling away on another theme. There is a standing order that deals with the issue of relevance; therefore, I urge you, Mr Speaker, to draw that to the to the minister’s attention. The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
The SPEAKER : The preamble to the member’s question referred to the meeting that took place and to the petition. The minister is commenting on the meeting and no doubt will comment on the petition. Questions without Notice Resumed Ms S.M. McHALE : How right you are, Mr Speaker. In 1999-2000 Western Australia spent $91 per child on out-of-home care. We are now spending $143 per child. I am quoting that data to illustrate that this government has tackled an area that was neglected by the previous government. In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
In relation to the petition, I received - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
The SPEAKER : Order! I was led to believe members wanted to hear what the minister had to say. I call the member for Roe to order for the first time. Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
Ms S.M. McHALE : The Leader of the Opposition has a copy of the petition. I believe he is able to read what is in the petition and, therefore, his question is redundant and irrelevant.
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