❓ Opposition MP Ripper questions Premier Barnett about child deaths known to the Department for Child Protection, referencing Barnett's previous stance and demanding a parliamentary inquiry. Barnett expresses sympathy, acknowledges the issue's seriousness, and promises to detail the numbers later, while also criticising a colleague of Ripper.
AnsweredQoN 378Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD DEATHS
In November 2006 the Premier described the deaths of 50 children a year who were known to child protection authorities as “shocking and damning statistics”. (1) How does the Premier now describe the Ombudsman’s information that in the past two years 96 children known to the Department for Child Protection have died? (2) In 2006 the now Premier demanded a royal commission. Will the Premier now support at least a parliamentary inquiry into this issue? Mr C.J. BARNETT
In November 2006 the Premier described the deaths of 50 children a year who were known to child protection authorities as “shocking and damning statistics”. (1) How does the Premier now describe the Ombudsman’s information that in the past two years 96 children known to the Department for Child Protection have died? (2) In 2006 the now Premier demanded a royal commission. Will the Premier now support at least a parliamentary inquiry into this issue? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The loss of any child is a tragedy. We should be very sympathetic to parents who, through no fault of their own, may have seen a child die. We are all aware that very young children are vulnerable at birth, and in the early months and years after that. Sometimes there are unexplained deaths—an obvious example is sudden infant death syndrome. Sometimes, tragically, accidents occur, such as drownings and the like. This is a very serious issue. Indeed, I note the Leader of the Opposition has given notice of a matter of public importance on this issue. I will be interested to hear what he says. In the response from this side, we will actually detail the exact numbers. In advance, I make reference to the fact that Hon Sue Ellery needs to take great care before she goes out in public and makes inaccurate comments.
(1) How does the Premier now describe the Ombudsman’s information that in the past two years 96 children known to the Department for Child Protection have died? (2) In 2006 the now Premier demanded a royal commission. Will the Premier now support at least a parliamentary inquiry into this issue? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) The loss of any child is a tragedy. We should be very sympathetic to parents who, through no fault of their own, may have seen a child die. We are all aware that very young children are vulnerable at birth, and in the early months and years after that. Sometimes there are unexplained deaths—an obvious example is sudden infant death syndrome. Sometimes, tragically, accidents occur, such as drownings and the like. This is a very serious issue. Indeed, I note the Leader of the Opposition has given notice of a matter of public importance on this issue. I will be interested to hear what he says. In the response from this side, we will actually detail the exact numbers. In advance, I make reference to the fact that Hon Sue Ellery needs to take great care before she goes out in public and makes inaccurate comments.
(2) In 2006 the now Premier demanded a royal commission. Will the Premier now support at least a parliamentary inquiry into this issue? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) The loss of any child is a tragedy. We should be very sympathetic to parents who, through no fault of their own, may have seen a child die. We are all aware that very young children are vulnerable at birth, and in the early months and years after that. Sometimes there are unexplained deaths—an obvious example is sudden infant death syndrome. Sometimes, tragically, accidents occur, such as drownings and the like. This is a very serious issue. Indeed, I note the Leader of the Opposition has given notice of a matter of public importance on this issue. I will be interested to hear what he says. In the response from this side, we will actually detail the exact numbers. In advance, I make reference to the fact that Hon Sue Ellery needs to take great care before she goes out in public and makes inaccurate comments.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) The loss of any child is a tragedy. We should be very sympathetic to parents who, through no fault of their own, may have seen a child die. We are all aware that very young children are vulnerable at birth, and in the early months and years after that. Sometimes there are unexplained deaths—an obvious example is sudden infant death syndrome. Sometimes, tragically, accidents occur, such as drownings and the like. This is a very serious issue. Indeed, I note the Leader of the Opposition has given notice of a matter of public importance on this issue. I will be interested to hear what he says. In the response from this side, we will actually detail the exact numbers. In advance, I make reference to the fact that Hon Sue Ellery needs to take great care before she goes out in public and makes inaccurate comments.
(1)–(2) The loss of any child is a tragedy. We should be very sympathetic to parents who, through no fault of their own, may have seen a child die. We are all aware that very young children are vulnerable at birth, and in the early months and years after that. Sometimes there are unexplained deaths—an obvious example is sudden infant death syndrome. Sometimes, tragically, accidents occur, such as drownings and the like. This is a very serious issue. Indeed, I note the Leader of the Opposition has given notice of a matter of public importance on this issue. I will be interested to hear what he says. In the response from this side, we will actually detail the exact numbers. In advance, I make reference to the fact that Hon Sue Ellery needs to take great care before she goes out in public and makes inaccurate comments.
(1) How does the Premier now describe the Ombudsman’s information that in the past two years 96 children known to the Department for Child Protection have died? (2) In 2006 the now Premier demanded a royal commission. Will the Premier now support at least a parliamentary inquiry into this issue? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) The loss of any child is a tragedy. We should be very sympathetic to parents who, through no fault of their own, may have seen a child die. We are all aware that very young children are vulnerable at birth, and in the early months and years after that. Sometimes there are unexplained deaths—an obvious example is sudden infant death syndrome. Sometimes, tragically, accidents occur, such as drownings and the like. This is a very serious issue. Indeed, I note the Leader of the Opposition has given notice of a matter of public importance on this issue. I will be interested to hear what he says. In the response from this side, we will actually detail the exact numbers. In advance, I make reference to the fact that Hon Sue Ellery needs to take great care before she goes out in public and makes inaccurate comments.
(2) In 2006 the now Premier demanded a royal commission. Will the Premier now support at least a parliamentary inquiry into this issue? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) The loss of any child is a tragedy. We should be very sympathetic to parents who, through no fault of their own, may have seen a child die. We are all aware that very young children are vulnerable at birth, and in the early months and years after that. Sometimes there are unexplained deaths—an obvious example is sudden infant death syndrome. Sometimes, tragically, accidents occur, such as drownings and the like. This is a very serious issue. Indeed, I note the Leader of the Opposition has given notice of a matter of public importance on this issue. I will be interested to hear what he says. In the response from this side, we will actually detail the exact numbers. In advance, I make reference to the fact that Hon Sue Ellery needs to take great care before she goes out in public and makes inaccurate comments.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) The loss of any child is a tragedy. We should be very sympathetic to parents who, through no fault of their own, may have seen a child die. We are all aware that very young children are vulnerable at birth, and in the early months and years after that. Sometimes there are unexplained deaths—an obvious example is sudden infant death syndrome. Sometimes, tragically, accidents occur, such as drownings and the like. This is a very serious issue. Indeed, I note the Leader of the Opposition has given notice of a matter of public importance on this issue. I will be interested to hear what he says. In the response from this side, we will actually detail the exact numbers. In advance, I make reference to the fact that Hon Sue Ellery needs to take great care before she goes out in public and makes inaccurate comments.
(1)–(2) The loss of any child is a tragedy. We should be very sympathetic to parents who, through no fault of their own, may have seen a child die. We are all aware that very young children are vulnerable at birth, and in the early months and years after that. Sometimes there are unexplained deaths—an obvious example is sudden infant death syndrome. Sometimes, tragically, accidents occur, such as drownings and the like. This is a very serious issue. Indeed, I note the Leader of the Opposition has given notice of a matter of public importance on this issue. I will be interested to hear what he says. In the response from this side, we will actually detail the exact numbers. In advance, I make reference to the fact that Hon Sue Ellery needs to take great care before she goes out in public and makes inaccurate comments.
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