❓ Mr. Love questions the Premier's commitment to child safety in healthcare, contrasting his public appearances with the alleged lack of reassurance regarding safety at Perth Children's Hospital. The Premier defends his actions and highlights historical context of the issue.
AnsweredQoN 713Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH CHILDREN'S
HOSPITAL — MENTAL HEALTH UNIT — ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT
713. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
How can we take the Premier's claims that he takes these matters
seriously to be true when he takes the time to go to Perth Zoo for good news
stories, but for so long has refused to front the people of this state and
reassure them about the safety of children in the healthcare system?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Premier.
HOSPITAL — MENTAL HEALTH UNIT — ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT
713. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
How can we take the Premier's claims that he takes these matters
seriously to be true when he takes the time to go to Perth Zoo for good news
stories, but for so long has refused to front the people of this state and
reassure them about the safety of children in the healthcare system?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Premier.
AnswerView source ↗
I take it that conservation is not
considered an important issue or the sort of thing that goes on as part of our
$50 million investment into conservation and zoological services—or
perhaps housing, yesterday. Maybe the member does not consider that important,
either.
I note that the Council of Official
Visitors—the precursor of the Mental Health Advocacy Service—made
this observation in 2014 —
Council would be made aware of two or
three sexual encounters between involuntary patients each year where there are
serious concerns about consent and whether there may have been a sexual
assault; this year was no different.
That was in 2014. These are not
issues that have only come to light as a result of this government's
oversight of this sector. These are issues that confront mental health services
everywhere. What we have seen is through the great work done by the Council of
Official Visitors and now the Mental Health Advocacy Service as part of their
statutory requirements to report on these incidents. But I stress that they are
not always the result of assault and do not always involve children. In many
cases, they are young adults. We make sure that sexual safety in these wards is
a high priority, and we are continuing to do so.
considered an important issue or the sort of thing that goes on as part of our
$50 million investment into conservation and zoological services—or
perhaps housing, yesterday. Maybe the member does not consider that important,
either.
I note that the Council of Official
Visitors—the precursor of the Mental Health Advocacy Service—made
this observation in 2014 —
Council would be made aware of two or
three sexual encounters between involuntary patients each year where there are
serious concerns about consent and whether there may have been a sexual
assault; this year was no different.
That was in 2014. These are not
issues that have only come to light as a result of this government's
oversight of this sector. These are issues that confront mental health services
everywhere. What we have seen is through the great work done by the Council of
Official Visitors and now the Mental Health Advocacy Service as part of their
statutory requirements to report on these incidents. But I stress that they are
not always the result of assault and do not always involve children. In many
cases, they are young adults. We make sure that sexual safety in these wards is
a high priority, and we are continuing to do so.
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