❓ The Premier outlines the Government's commitment to child welfare, specifically addressing online safety and measures to protect children from online predators, including legislative amendments and increased resources for law enforcement.
AnsweredQoN 362Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the Premier explain how the Government’s commitment to the welfare of children will extend to ensuring that young people who use the Internet will not be preyed upon by paedophiles? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
Yesterday, along with several of my ministerial colleagues, I announced our Children First policy, which is a comprehensive interdepartmental commitment to making sure that our children are cared for and protected. The three basic themes of the policy are, first of all, to make sure children have full opportunity to realise their talents and capacities; secondly, that the support services are in place to ensure that children can realise those opportunities; and, finally, to make sure our children are protected from those who would wish harm on them. The document outlines all the initiatives the Government has taken in education, community development and health, and initiatives through the portfolio of youth and the work of the Minister for Community Development, Women’s Interests, Seniors and Youth. Of course, early intervention strategies in education, health promotion strategies and making sure that opportunities are available to all our children need to be backed up with a clear commitment to child protection. I believe all of us in politics today understand the importance of this issue to the community. There is no doubt that the Internet is a newly available instrument that can produce a lot of good in our society. However, at the same time, those people who might have evil intentions can use the Internet to prey upon young children, and in some cases perhaps make contact with young children and follow it up with criminal acts. We are very keen to make sure that this does not happen. As members know from the budget that came down earlier this year, we announced a commitment of $385 000 to the Western Australia Police Service to implement the online covert unit within the child abuse unit. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the officers from that unit. However, we need to make sure that those officers have the power to deliver on the expectation of the community that they will disclose paedophiles and bring them to justice. We will be making amendments to the Criminal Code that will make it an offence to surf the Internet searching for vulnerable prey with the intention of grooming them for abuse. Magistrates will also be able to compel an alleged paedophile to divulge any encryption, personal identification number or password required for police to access data stored on a computer or even on a mobile phone. The experience from other jurisdictions, such as Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, where similar legislation is in place is that arrests have already been made of paedophiles who use the Internet. Therefore, this is an important piece of child protection legislation that we want to bring to the Parliament. We have to address many issues in this contemporary society, and, obviously, the care and protection of our children is one of those top priorities. This Government is very proud of what it has done in terms of the Gordon Inquiry into Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities, and the fact that that is leading to significant change in Aboriginal communities throughout the State. In particular, it is empowering women to take a stand in those communities and to offer leadership so that a new direction is taken. We have also increased the number of child protection workers who are available in the system, and we have in place a range of programs to deal with family dysfunction and to work on those issues. Making sure that there is care and protection for children is a top priority for the Government; it sits alongside our programs to ensure that children realise their opportunities and that the support services are in place. When this legislation comes to the Parliament, I am sure we will endeavour to see that it progresses through the Parliament in a speedy way, so that we can be assured that those people who want to use the Internet for evil purposes can be brought to justice.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: Yesterday, along with several of my ministerial colleagues, I announced our Children First policy, which is a comprehensive interdepartmental commitment to making sure that our children are cared for and protected. The three basic themes of the policy are, first of all, to make sure children have full opportunity to realise their talents and capacities; secondly, that the support services are in place to ensure that children can realise those opportunities; and, finally, to make sure our children are protected from those who would wish harm on them. The document outlines all the initiatives the Government has taken in education, community development and health, and initiatives through the portfolio of youth and the work of the Minister for Community Development, Women’s Interests, Seniors and Youth. Of course, early intervention strategies in education, health promotion strategies and making sure that opportunities are available to all our children need to be backed up with a clear commitment to child protection. I believe all of us in politics today understand the importance of this issue to the community. There is no doubt that the Internet is a newly available instrument that can produce a lot of good in our society. However, at the same time, those people who might have evil intentions can use the Internet to prey upon young children, and in some cases perhaps make contact with young children and follow it up with criminal acts. We are very keen to make sure that this does not happen. As members know from the budget that came down earlier this year, we announced a commitment of $385 000 to the Western Australia Police Service to implement the online covert unit within the child abuse unit. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the officers from that unit. However, we need to make sure that those officers have the power to deliver on the expectation of the community that they will disclose paedophiles and bring them to justice. We will be making amendments to the Criminal Code that will make it an offence to surf the Internet searching for vulnerable prey with the intention of grooming them for abuse. Magistrates will also be able to compel an alleged paedophile to divulge any encryption, personal identification number or password required for police to access data stored on a computer or even on a mobile phone. The experience from other jurisdictions, such as Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, where similar legislation is in place is that arrests have already been made of paedophiles who use the Internet. Therefore, this is an important piece of child protection legislation that we want to bring to the Parliament. We have to address many issues in this contemporary society, and, obviously, the care and protection of our children is one of those top priorities. This Government is very proud of what it has done in terms of the Gordon Inquiry into Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities, and the fact that that is leading to significant change in Aboriginal communities throughout the State. In particular, it is empowering women to take a stand in those communities and to offer leadership so that a new direction is taken. We have also increased the number of child protection workers who are available in the system, and we have in place a range of programs to deal with family dysfunction and to work on those issues. Making sure that there is care and protection for children is a top priority for the Government; it sits alongside our programs to ensure that children realise their opportunities and that the support services are in place. When this legislation comes to the Parliament, I am sure we will endeavour to see that it progresses through the Parliament in a speedy way, so that we can be assured that those people who want to use the Internet for evil purposes can be brought to justice.
Yesterday, along with several of my ministerial colleagues, I announced our Children First policy, which is a comprehensive interdepartmental commitment to making sure that our children are cared for and protected. The three basic themes of the policy are, first of all, to make sure children have full opportunity to realise their talents and capacities; secondly, that the support services are in place to ensure that children can realise those opportunities; and, finally, to make sure our children are protected from those who would wish harm on them. The document outlines all the initiatives the Government has taken in education, community development and health, and initiatives through the portfolio of youth and the work of the Minister for Community Development, Women’s Interests, Seniors and Youth. Of course, early intervention strategies in education, health promotion strategies and making sure that opportunities are available to all our children need to be backed up with a clear commitment to child protection. I believe all of us in politics today understand the importance of this issue to the community. There is no doubt that the Internet is a newly available instrument that can produce a lot of good in our society. However, at the same time, those people who might have evil intentions can use the Internet to prey upon young children, and in some cases perhaps make contact with young children and follow it up with criminal acts. We are very keen to make sure that this does not happen. As members know from the budget that came down earlier this year, we announced a commitment of $385 000 to the Western Australia Police Service to implement the online covert unit within the child abuse unit. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the officers from that unit. However, we need to make sure that those officers have the power to deliver on the expectation of the community that they will disclose paedophiles and bring them to justice. We will be making amendments to the Criminal Code that will make it an offence to surf the Internet searching for vulnerable prey with the intention of grooming them for abuse. Magistrates will also be able to compel an alleged paedophile to divulge any encryption, personal identification number or password required for police to access data stored on a computer or even on a mobile phone. The experience from other jurisdictions, such as Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, where similar legislation is in place is that arrests have already been made of paedophiles who use the Internet. Therefore, this is an important piece of child protection legislation that we want to bring to the Parliament. We have to address many issues in this contemporary society, and, obviously, the care and protection of our children is one of those top priorities. This Government is very proud of what it has done in terms of the Gordon Inquiry into Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities, and the fact that that is leading to significant change in Aboriginal communities throughout the State. In particular, it is empowering women to take a stand in those communities and to offer leadership so that a new direction is taken. We have also increased the number of child protection workers who are available in the system, and we have in place a range of programs to deal with family dysfunction and to work on those issues. Making sure that there is care and protection for children is a top priority for the Government; it sits alongside our programs to ensure that children realise their opportunities and that the support services are in place. When this legislation comes to the Parliament, I am sure we will endeavour to see that it progresses through the Parliament in a speedy way, so that we can be assured that those people who want to use the Internet for evil purposes can be brought to justice.
Of course, early intervention strategies in education, health promotion strategies and making sure that opportunities are available to all our children need to be backed up with a clear commitment to child protection. I believe all of us in politics today understand the importance of this issue to the community. There is no doubt that the Internet is a newly available instrument that can produce a lot of good in our society. However, at the same time, those people who might have evil intentions can use the Internet to prey upon young children, and in some cases perhaps make contact with young children and follow it up with criminal acts. We are very keen to make sure that this does not happen. As members know from the budget that came down earlier this year, we announced a commitment of $385 000 to the Western Australia Police Service to implement the online covert unit within the child abuse unit. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the officers from that unit. However, we need to make sure that those officers have the power to deliver on the expectation of the community that they will disclose paedophiles and bring them to justice. We will be making amendments to the Criminal Code that will make it an offence to surf the Internet searching for vulnerable prey with the intention of grooming them for abuse. Magistrates will also be able to compel an alleged paedophile to divulge any encryption, personal identification number or password required for police to access data stored on a computer or even on a mobile phone. The experience from other jurisdictions, such as Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, where similar legislation is in place is that arrests have already been made of paedophiles who use the Internet. Therefore, this is an important piece of child protection legislation that we want to bring to the Parliament. We have to address many issues in this contemporary society, and, obviously, the care and protection of our children is one of those top priorities. This Government is very proud of what it has done in terms of the Gordon Inquiry into Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities, and the fact that that is leading to significant change in Aboriginal communities throughout the State. In particular, it is empowering women to take a stand in those communities and to offer leadership so that a new direction is taken. We have also increased the number of child protection workers who are available in the system, and we have in place a range of programs to deal with family dysfunction and to work on those issues. Making sure that there is care and protection for children is a top priority for the Government; it sits alongside our programs to ensure that children realise their opportunities and that the support services are in place. When this legislation comes to the Parliament, I am sure we will endeavour to see that it progresses through the Parliament in a speedy way, so that we can be assured that those people who want to use the Internet for evil purposes can be brought to justice.
We have to address many issues in this contemporary society, and, obviously, the care and protection of our children is one of those top priorities. This Government is very proud of what it has done in terms of the Gordon Inquiry into Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities, and the fact that that is leading to significant change in Aboriginal communities throughout the State. In particular, it is empowering women to take a stand in those communities and to offer leadership so that a new direction is taken. We have also increased the number of child protection workers who are available in the system, and we have in place a range of programs to deal with family dysfunction and to work on those issues. Making sure that there is care and protection for children is a top priority for the Government; it sits alongside our programs to ensure that children realise their opportunities and that the support services are in place. When this legislation comes to the Parliament, I am sure we will endeavour to see that it progresses through the Parliament in a speedy way, so that we can be assured that those people who want to use the Internet for evil purposes can be brought to justice.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: Yesterday, along with several of my ministerial colleagues, I announced our Children First policy, which is a comprehensive interdepartmental commitment to making sure that our children are cared for and protected. The three basic themes of the policy are, first of all, to make sure children have full opportunity to realise their talents and capacities; secondly, that the support services are in place to ensure that children can realise those opportunities; and, finally, to make sure our children are protected from those who would wish harm on them. The document outlines all the initiatives the Government has taken in education, community development and health, and initiatives through the portfolio of youth and the work of the Minister for Community Development, Women’s Interests, Seniors and Youth. Of course, early intervention strategies in education, health promotion strategies and making sure that opportunities are available to all our children need to be backed up with a clear commitment to child protection. I believe all of us in politics today understand the importance of this issue to the community. There is no doubt that the Internet is a newly available instrument that can produce a lot of good in our society. However, at the same time, those people who might have evil intentions can use the Internet to prey upon young children, and in some cases perhaps make contact with young children and follow it up with criminal acts. We are very keen to make sure that this does not happen. As members know from the budget that came down earlier this year, we announced a commitment of $385 000 to the Western Australia Police Service to implement the online covert unit within the child abuse unit. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the officers from that unit. However, we need to make sure that those officers have the power to deliver on the expectation of the community that they will disclose paedophiles and bring them to justice. We will be making amendments to the Criminal Code that will make it an offence to surf the Internet searching for vulnerable prey with the intention of grooming them for abuse. Magistrates will also be able to compel an alleged paedophile to divulge any encryption, personal identification number or password required for police to access data stored on a computer or even on a mobile phone. The experience from other jurisdictions, such as Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, where similar legislation is in place is that arrests have already been made of paedophiles who use the Internet. Therefore, this is an important piece of child protection legislation that we want to bring to the Parliament. We have to address many issues in this contemporary society, and, obviously, the care and protection of our children is one of those top priorities. This Government is very proud of what it has done in terms of the Gordon Inquiry into Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities, and the fact that that is leading to significant change in Aboriginal communities throughout the State. In particular, it is empowering women to take a stand in those communities and to offer leadership so that a new direction is taken. We have also increased the number of child protection workers who are available in the system, and we have in place a range of programs to deal with family dysfunction and to work on those issues. Making sure that there is care and protection for children is a top priority for the Government; it sits alongside our programs to ensure that children realise their opportunities and that the support services are in place. When this legislation comes to the Parliament, I am sure we will endeavour to see that it progresses through the Parliament in a speedy way, so that we can be assured that those people who want to use the Internet for evil purposes can be brought to justice.
Yesterday, along with several of my ministerial colleagues, I announced our Children First policy, which is a comprehensive interdepartmental commitment to making sure that our children are cared for and protected. The three basic themes of the policy are, first of all, to make sure children have full opportunity to realise their talents and capacities; secondly, that the support services are in place to ensure that children can realise those opportunities; and, finally, to make sure our children are protected from those who would wish harm on them. The document outlines all the initiatives the Government has taken in education, community development and health, and initiatives through the portfolio of youth and the work of the Minister for Community Development, Women’s Interests, Seniors and Youth. Of course, early intervention strategies in education, health promotion strategies and making sure that opportunities are available to all our children need to be backed up with a clear commitment to child protection. I believe all of us in politics today understand the importance of this issue to the community. There is no doubt that the Internet is a newly available instrument that can produce a lot of good in our society. However, at the same time, those people who might have evil intentions can use the Internet to prey upon young children, and in some cases perhaps make contact with young children and follow it up with criminal acts. We are very keen to make sure that this does not happen. As members know from the budget that came down earlier this year, we announced a commitment of $385 000 to the Western Australia Police Service to implement the online covert unit within the child abuse unit. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the officers from that unit. However, we need to make sure that those officers have the power to deliver on the expectation of the community that they will disclose paedophiles and bring them to justice. We will be making amendments to the Criminal Code that will make it an offence to surf the Internet searching for vulnerable prey with the intention of grooming them for abuse. Magistrates will also be able to compel an alleged paedophile to divulge any encryption, personal identification number or password required for police to access data stored on a computer or even on a mobile phone. The experience from other jurisdictions, such as Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, where similar legislation is in place is that arrests have already been made of paedophiles who use the Internet. Therefore, this is an important piece of child protection legislation that we want to bring to the Parliament. We have to address many issues in this contemporary society, and, obviously, the care and protection of our children is one of those top priorities. This Government is very proud of what it has done in terms of the Gordon Inquiry into Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities, and the fact that that is leading to significant change in Aboriginal communities throughout the State. In particular, it is empowering women to take a stand in those communities and to offer leadership so that a new direction is taken. We have also increased the number of child protection workers who are available in the system, and we have in place a range of programs to deal with family dysfunction and to work on those issues. Making sure that there is care and protection for children is a top priority for the Government; it sits alongside our programs to ensure that children realise their opportunities and that the support services are in place. When this legislation comes to the Parliament, I am sure we will endeavour to see that it progresses through the Parliament in a speedy way, so that we can be assured that those people who want to use the Internet for evil purposes can be brought to justice.
Of course, early intervention strategies in education, health promotion strategies and making sure that opportunities are available to all our children need to be backed up with a clear commitment to child protection. I believe all of us in politics today understand the importance of this issue to the community. There is no doubt that the Internet is a newly available instrument that can produce a lot of good in our society. However, at the same time, those people who might have evil intentions can use the Internet to prey upon young children, and in some cases perhaps make contact with young children and follow it up with criminal acts. We are very keen to make sure that this does not happen. As members know from the budget that came down earlier this year, we announced a commitment of $385 000 to the Western Australia Police Service to implement the online covert unit within the child abuse unit. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the officers from that unit. However, we need to make sure that those officers have the power to deliver on the expectation of the community that they will disclose paedophiles and bring them to justice. We will be making amendments to the Criminal Code that will make it an offence to surf the Internet searching for vulnerable prey with the intention of grooming them for abuse. Magistrates will also be able to compel an alleged paedophile to divulge any encryption, personal identification number or password required for police to access data stored on a computer or even on a mobile phone. The experience from other jurisdictions, such as Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, where similar legislation is in place is that arrests have already been made of paedophiles who use the Internet. Therefore, this is an important piece of child protection legislation that we want to bring to the Parliament. We have to address many issues in this contemporary society, and, obviously, the care and protection of our children is one of those top priorities. This Government is very proud of what it has done in terms of the Gordon Inquiry into Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities, and the fact that that is leading to significant change in Aboriginal communities throughout the State. In particular, it is empowering women to take a stand in those communities and to offer leadership so that a new direction is taken. We have also increased the number of child protection workers who are available in the system, and we have in place a range of programs to deal with family dysfunction and to work on those issues. Making sure that there is care and protection for children is a top priority for the Government; it sits alongside our programs to ensure that children realise their opportunities and that the support services are in place. When this legislation comes to the Parliament, I am sure we will endeavour to see that it progresses through the Parliament in a speedy way, so that we can be assured that those people who want to use the Internet for evil purposes can be brought to justice.
We have to address many issues in this contemporary society, and, obviously, the care and protection of our children is one of those top priorities. This Government is very proud of what it has done in terms of the Gordon Inquiry into Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities, and the fact that that is leading to significant change in Aboriginal communities throughout the State. In particular, it is empowering women to take a stand in those communities and to offer leadership so that a new direction is taken. We have also increased the number of child protection workers who are available in the system, and we have in place a range of programs to deal with family dysfunction and to work on those issues. Making sure that there is care and protection for children is a top priority for the Government; it sits alongside our programs to ensure that children realise their opportunities and that the support services are in place. When this legislation comes to the Parliament, I am sure we will endeavour to see that it progresses through the Parliament in a speedy way, so that we can be assured that those people who want to use the Internet for evil purposes can be brought to justice.
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