❓ Question on legislative changes to improve child protection in WA. Answer outlines several Acts introduced, including Working with Children, Cyber Predator, and Dangerous Sexual Offenders Acts, while also criticising the previous Liberal government's record.
AnsweredQoN 574Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD PROTECTION - LEGISLATIVE CHANGES
Yesterday the minister outlined the additional resources and staffing that have been provided to the Department for Community Development. Will the minister advise the house of the legislative changes that have been made to improve child protection in Western Australia? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN
Yesterday the minister outlined the additional resources and staffing that have been provided to the Department for Community Development. Will the minister advise the house of the legislative changes that have been made to improve child protection in Western Australia? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Swan Hills for her question. As I have outlined on numerous occasions to this house over the past few weeks, we have made significant contributions to ensure that we have a very strong child protection system in Western Australia, and we are doing more. The member is correct that yesterday I highlighted some of the measures that have been introduced. In addition to a major overhaul of the legislation that oversees the protection of children through the Children and Community Services Act 2004, we introduced the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act, which is very important legislation. That legislation ensures that people who work with children in our community, be they paid workers or volunteers, are properly screened. A rigorous process ensures that people who seek to work with children are appropriate. We introduced also the cyber predator’s legislation, which has already captured a number of people who have been involved in that inappropriate behaviour. We introduced the children’s commissioner legislation into the house, although it is still sitting in the upper house. Hopefully the Liberal Party will get its act together and pass that legislation. The government also introduced the Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act 2006. Under that legislation, serious sex offenders and paedophiles will remain in prison beyond the time for which they have been sentenced. This government has done a huge amount over the past five years. We have done far more than the Liberal Party ever did during its time of government. It did not renew any legislation or review the then Child Welfare Act. It did not even introduce mandatory reporting of child abuse, which it has suddenly embraced. Several members interjected. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : This government has a very strong history of protecting children in Western Australia and will continue to do more and will continue to resource the department so that child protection remains a priority of this government into the future. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Nedlands, Hillarys and Roe.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the member for Swan Hills for her question. As I have outlined on numerous occasions to this house over the past few weeks, we have made significant contributions to ensure that we have a very strong child protection system in Western Australia, and we are doing more. The member is correct that yesterday I highlighted some of the measures that have been introduced. In addition to a major overhaul of the legislation that oversees the protection of children through the Children and Community Services Act 2004, we introduced the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act, which is very important legislation. That legislation ensures that people who work with children in our community, be they paid workers or volunteers, are properly screened. A rigorous process ensures that people who seek to work with children are appropriate. We introduced also the cyber predator’s legislation, which has already captured a number of people who have been involved in that inappropriate behaviour. We introduced the children’s commissioner legislation into the house, although it is still sitting in the upper house. Hopefully the Liberal Party will get its act together and pass that legislation. The government also introduced the Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act 2006. Under that legislation, serious sex offenders and paedophiles will remain in prison beyond the time for which they have been sentenced. This government has done a huge amount over the past five years. We have done far more than the Liberal Party ever did during its time of government. It did not renew any legislation or review the then Child Welfare Act. It did not even introduce mandatory reporting of child abuse, which it has suddenly embraced. Several members interjected. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : This government has a very strong history of protecting children in Western Australia and will continue to do more and will continue to resource the department so that child protection remains a priority of this government into the future. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Nedlands, Hillarys and Roe.
I thank the member for Swan Hills for her question. As I have outlined on numerous occasions to this house over the past few weeks, we have made significant contributions to ensure that we have a very strong child protection system in Western Australia, and we are doing more. The member is correct that yesterday I highlighted some of the measures that have been introduced. In addition to a major overhaul of the legislation that oversees the protection of children through the Children and Community Services Act 2004, we introduced the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act, which is very important legislation. That legislation ensures that people who work with children in our community, be they paid workers or volunteers, are properly screened. A rigorous process ensures that people who seek to work with children are appropriate. We introduced also the cyber predator’s legislation, which has already captured a number of people who have been involved in that inappropriate behaviour. We introduced the children’s commissioner legislation into the house, although it is still sitting in the upper house. Hopefully the Liberal Party will get its act together and pass that legislation. The government also introduced the Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act 2006. Under that legislation, serious sex offenders and paedophiles will remain in prison beyond the time for which they have been sentenced. This government has done a huge amount over the past five years. We have done far more than the Liberal Party ever did during its time of government. It did not renew any legislation or review the then Child Welfare Act. It did not even introduce mandatory reporting of child abuse, which it has suddenly embraced. Several members interjected. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : This government has a very strong history of protecting children in Western Australia and will continue to do more and will continue to resource the department so that child protection remains a priority of this government into the future. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Nedlands, Hillarys and Roe.
Several members interjected. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : This government has a very strong history of protecting children in Western Australia and will continue to do more and will continue to resource the department so that child protection remains a priority of this government into the future. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Nedlands, Hillarys and Roe.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : This government has a very strong history of protecting children in Western Australia and will continue to do more and will continue to resource the department so that child protection remains a priority of this government into the future. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Nedlands, Hillarys and Roe.
The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Nedlands, Hillarys and Roe.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the member for Swan Hills for her question. As I have outlined on numerous occasions to this house over the past few weeks, we have made significant contributions to ensure that we have a very strong child protection system in Western Australia, and we are doing more. The member is correct that yesterday I highlighted some of the measures that have been introduced. In addition to a major overhaul of the legislation that oversees the protection of children through the Children and Community Services Act 2004, we introduced the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act, which is very important legislation. That legislation ensures that people who work with children in our community, be they paid workers or volunteers, are properly screened. A rigorous process ensures that people who seek to work with children are appropriate. We introduced also the cyber predator’s legislation, which has already captured a number of people who have been involved in that inappropriate behaviour. We introduced the children’s commissioner legislation into the house, although it is still sitting in the upper house. Hopefully the Liberal Party will get its act together and pass that legislation. The government also introduced the Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act 2006. Under that legislation, serious sex offenders and paedophiles will remain in prison beyond the time for which they have been sentenced. This government has done a huge amount over the past five years. We have done far more than the Liberal Party ever did during its time of government. It did not renew any legislation or review the then Child Welfare Act. It did not even introduce mandatory reporting of child abuse, which it has suddenly embraced. Several members interjected. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : This government has a very strong history of protecting children in Western Australia and will continue to do more and will continue to resource the department so that child protection remains a priority of this government into the future. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Nedlands, Hillarys and Roe.
I thank the member for Swan Hills for her question. As I have outlined on numerous occasions to this house over the past few weeks, we have made significant contributions to ensure that we have a very strong child protection system in Western Australia, and we are doing more. The member is correct that yesterday I highlighted some of the measures that have been introduced. In addition to a major overhaul of the legislation that oversees the protection of children through the Children and Community Services Act 2004, we introduced the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act, which is very important legislation. That legislation ensures that people who work with children in our community, be they paid workers or volunteers, are properly screened. A rigorous process ensures that people who seek to work with children are appropriate. We introduced also the cyber predator’s legislation, which has already captured a number of people who have been involved in that inappropriate behaviour. We introduced the children’s commissioner legislation into the house, although it is still sitting in the upper house. Hopefully the Liberal Party will get its act together and pass that legislation. The government also introduced the Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act 2006. Under that legislation, serious sex offenders and paedophiles will remain in prison beyond the time for which they have been sentenced. This government has done a huge amount over the past five years. We have done far more than the Liberal Party ever did during its time of government. It did not renew any legislation or review the then Child Welfare Act. It did not even introduce mandatory reporting of child abuse, which it has suddenly embraced. Several members interjected. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : This government has a very strong history of protecting children in Western Australia and will continue to do more and will continue to resource the department so that child protection remains a priority of this government into the future. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Nedlands, Hillarys and Roe.
Several members interjected. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : This government has a very strong history of protecting children in Western Australia and will continue to do more and will continue to resource the department so that child protection remains a priority of this government into the future. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Nedlands, Hillarys and Roe.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : This government has a very strong history of protecting children in Western Australia and will continue to do more and will continue to resource the department so that child protection remains a priority of this government into the future. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Nedlands, Hillarys and Roe.
The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Nedlands, Hillarys and Roe.
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