Opposition questions the Premier regarding the death of Wade Scale, focusing on the Department for Community Development's actions and potential negligence in returning the child to his parents' care. The Premier acknowledges the tragedy and ongoing review, but deflects blame.

AnsweredQoN 501Legislative Assembly
Asked
22 August 2006
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

WADE SCALE
I refer to the tragic death of baby Wade Scale. (1) Can the Premier confirm that both Wade and his sibling were removed from their parents’ care several months prior to Wade’s death; and, if they were removed, why? (2) Were the children returned to their parents’ care after only five weeks; and, if so, why? (3) Given that Wade died only three weeks later, does the Premier concede that both the Department for Community Development and the then Minister for Community Development were negligent in returning Wade to his parents? (4) Why did the government fund a trip to Queensland for Wade’s grandmother and his sisters? Mr A.J. CARPENTER

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(4) I am advised that the answer to the first question is yes. Wade and his sibling were separated from their parents in the time frame mentioned. They were taken back to their parents on the advice of their case managers. That is the advice that I have: they were returned because the environment was conducive to their return to their parents. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: What is going on here is quite appalling. It is absolutely appalling. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The advice that I am given is that the decision was made that the children could be returned to their parents. What happened to that child was a tragedy; we know that. The coroner has investigated the matter and has made his findings. The coroner recommended that a review of the processes of the Department for Community Development take place. The government is acting upon that advice. I will it say over and over again: the death of Wade Scale is tragic; it is a matter of profound sadness. To leap from that death to point the finger of blame at the minister of the day is a leap that I do not take. To anyone who takes an interest in these matters, what is happening in this Parliament is transparently obvious. I believe that the general public of Western Australia, observing what is happening in this Parliament, will make its own judgment.
(1) Can the Premier confirm that both Wade and his sibling were removed from their parents’ care several months prior to Wade’s death; and, if they were removed, why? (2) Were the children returned to their parents’ care after only five weeks; and, if so, why? (3) Given that Wade died only three weeks later, does the Premier concede that both the Department for Community Development and the then Minister for Community Development were negligent in returning Wade to his parents? (4) Why did the government fund a trip to Queensland for Wade’s grandmother and his sisters? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(4) I am advised that the answer to the first question is yes. Wade and his sibling were separated from their parents in the time frame mentioned. They were taken back to their parents on the advice of their case managers. That is the advice that I have: they were returned because the environment was conducive to their return to their parents. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: What is going on here is quite appalling. It is absolutely appalling. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The advice that I am given is that the decision was made that the children could be returned to their parents. What happened to that child was a tragedy; we know that. The coroner has investigated the matter and has made his findings. The coroner recommended that a review of the processes of the Department for Community Development take place. The government is acting upon that advice. I will it say over and over again: the death of Wade Scale is tragic; it is a matter of profound sadness. To leap from that death to point the finger of blame at the minister of the day is a leap that I do not take. To anyone who takes an interest in these matters, what is happening in this Parliament is transparently obvious. I believe that the general public of Western Australia, observing what is happening in this Parliament, will make its own judgment.
(2) Were the children returned to their parents’ care after only five weeks; and, if so, why? (3) Given that Wade died only three weeks later, does the Premier concede that both the Department for Community Development and the then Minister for Community Development were negligent in returning Wade to his parents? (4) Why did the government fund a trip to Queensland for Wade’s grandmother and his sisters? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(4) I am advised that the answer to the first question is yes. Wade and his sibling were separated from their parents in the time frame mentioned. They were taken back to their parents on the advice of their case managers. That is the advice that I have: they were returned because the environment was conducive to their return to their parents. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: What is going on here is quite appalling. It is absolutely appalling. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The advice that I am given is that the decision was made that the children could be returned to their parents. What happened to that child was a tragedy; we know that. The coroner has investigated the matter and has made his findings. The coroner recommended that a review of the processes of the Department for Community Development take place. The government is acting upon that advice. I will it say over and over again: the death of Wade Scale is tragic; it is a matter of profound sadness. To leap from that death to point the finger of blame at the minister of the day is a leap that I do not take. To anyone who takes an interest in these matters, what is happening in this Parliament is transparently obvious. I believe that the general public of Western Australia, observing what is happening in this Parliament, will make its own judgment.
(3) Given that Wade died only three weeks later, does the Premier concede that both the Department for Community Development and the then Minister for Community Development were negligent in returning Wade to his parents? (4) Why did the government fund a trip to Queensland for Wade’s grandmother and his sisters? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(4) I am advised that the answer to the first question is yes. Wade and his sibling were separated from their parents in the time frame mentioned. They were taken back to their parents on the advice of their case managers. That is the advice that I have: they were returned because the environment was conducive to their return to their parents. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: What is going on here is quite appalling. It is absolutely appalling. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The advice that I am given is that the decision was made that the children could be returned to their parents. What happened to that child was a tragedy; we know that. The coroner has investigated the matter and has made his findings. The coroner recommended that a review of the processes of the Department for Community Development take place. The government is acting upon that advice. I will it say over and over again: the death of Wade Scale is tragic; it is a matter of profound sadness. To leap from that death to point the finger of blame at the minister of the day is a leap that I do not take. To anyone who takes an interest in these matters, what is happening in this Parliament is transparently obvious. I believe that the general public of Western Australia, observing what is happening in this Parliament, will make its own judgment.
(4) Why did the government fund a trip to Queensland for Wade’s grandmother and his sisters? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(4) I am advised that the answer to the first question is yes. Wade and his sibling were separated from their parents in the time frame mentioned. They were taken back to their parents on the advice of their case managers. That is the advice that I have: they were returned because the environment was conducive to their return to their parents. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: What is going on here is quite appalling. It is absolutely appalling. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The advice that I am given is that the decision was made that the children could be returned to their parents. What happened to that child was a tragedy; we know that. The coroner has investigated the matter and has made his findings. The coroner recommended that a review of the processes of the Department for Community Development take place. The government is acting upon that advice. I will it say over and over again: the death of Wade Scale is tragic; it is a matter of profound sadness. To leap from that death to point the finger of blame at the minister of the day is a leap that I do not take. To anyone who takes an interest in these matters, what is happening in this Parliament is transparently obvious. I believe that the general public of Western Australia, observing what is happening in this Parliament, will make its own judgment.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(4) I am advised that the answer to the first question is yes. Wade and his sibling were separated from their parents in the time frame mentioned. They were taken back to their parents on the advice of their case managers. That is the advice that I have: they were returned because the environment was conducive to their return to their parents. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: What is going on here is quite appalling. It is absolutely appalling. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The advice that I am given is that the decision was made that the children could be returned to their parents. What happened to that child was a tragedy; we know that. The coroner has investigated the matter and has made his findings. The coroner recommended that a review of the processes of the Department for Community Development take place. The government is acting upon that advice. I will it say over and over again: the death of Wade Scale is tragic; it is a matter of profound sadness. To leap from that death to point the finger of blame at the minister of the day is a leap that I do not take. To anyone who takes an interest in these matters, what is happening in this Parliament is transparently obvious. I believe that the general public of Western Australia, observing what is happening in this Parliament, will make its own judgment.
I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(4) I am advised that the answer to the first question is yes. Wade and his sibling were separated from their parents in the time frame mentioned. They were taken back to their parents on the advice of their case managers. That is the advice that I have: they were returned because the environment was conducive to their return to their parents. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: What is going on here is quite appalling. It is absolutely appalling. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The advice that I am given is that the decision was made that the children could be returned to their parents. What happened to that child was a tragedy; we know that. The coroner has investigated the matter and has made his findings. The coroner recommended that a review of the processes of the Department for Community Development take place. The government is acting upon that advice. I will it say over and over again: the death of Wade Scale is tragic; it is a matter of profound sadness. To leap from that death to point the finger of blame at the minister of the day is a leap that I do not take. To anyone who takes an interest in these matters, what is happening in this Parliament is transparently obvious. I believe that the general public of Western Australia, observing what is happening in this Parliament, will make its own judgment.
(1)-(4) I am advised that the answer to the first question is yes. Wade and his sibling were separated from their parents in the time frame mentioned. They were taken back to their parents on the advice of their case managers. That is the advice that I have: they were returned because the environment was conducive to their return to their parents. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: What is going on here is quite appalling. It is absolutely appalling. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The advice that I am given is that the decision was made that the children could be returned to their parents. What happened to that child was a tragedy; we know that. The coroner has investigated the matter and has made his findings. The coroner recommended that a review of the processes of the Department for Community Development take place. The government is acting upon that advice. I will it say over and over again: the death of Wade Scale is tragic; it is a matter of profound sadness. To leap from that death to point the finger of blame at the minister of the day is a leap that I do not take. To anyone who takes an interest in these matters, what is happening in this Parliament is transparently obvious. I believe that the general public of Western Australia, observing what is happening in this Parliament, will make its own judgment.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: What is going on here is quite appalling. It is absolutely appalling. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The advice that I am given is that the decision was made that the children could be returned to their parents. What happened to that child was a tragedy; we know that. The coroner has investigated the matter and has made his findings. The coroner recommended that a review of the processes of the Department for Community Development take place. The government is acting upon that advice. I will it say over and over again: the death of Wade Scale is tragic; it is a matter of profound sadness. To leap from that death to point the finger of blame at the minister of the day is a leap that I do not take. To anyone who takes an interest in these matters, what is happening in this Parliament is transparently obvious. I believe that the general public of Western Australia, observing what is happening in this Parliament, will make its own judgment.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: What is going on here is quite appalling. It is absolutely appalling. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The advice that I am given is that the decision was made that the children could be returned to their parents. What happened to that child was a tragedy; we know that. The coroner has investigated the matter and has made his findings. The coroner recommended that a review of the processes of the Department for Community Development take place. The government is acting upon that advice. I will it say over and over again: the death of Wade Scale is tragic; it is a matter of profound sadness. To leap from that death to point the finger of blame at the minister of the day is a leap that I do not take. To anyone who takes an interest in these matters, what is happening in this Parliament is transparently obvious. I believe that the general public of Western Australia, observing what is happening in this Parliament, will make its own judgment.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: What is going on here is quite appalling. It is absolutely appalling. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The advice that I am given is that the decision was made that the children could be returned to their parents. What happened to that child was a tragedy; we know that. The coroner has investigated the matter and has made his findings. The coroner recommended that a review of the processes of the Department for Community Development take place. The government is acting upon that advice. I will it say over and over again: the death of Wade Scale is tragic; it is a matter of profound sadness. To leap from that death to point the finger of blame at the minister of the day is a leap that I do not take. To anyone who takes an interest in these matters, what is happening in this Parliament is transparently obvious. I believe that the general public of Western Australia, observing what is happening in this Parliament, will make its own judgment.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The advice that I am given is that the decision was made that the children could be returned to their parents. What happened to that child was a tragedy; we know that. The coroner has investigated the matter and has made his findings. The coroner recommended that a review of the processes of the Department for Community Development take place. The government is acting upon that advice. I will it say over and over again: the death of Wade Scale is tragic; it is a matter of profound sadness. To leap from that death to point the finger of blame at the minister of the day is a leap that I do not take. To anyone who takes an interest in these matters, what is happening in this Parliament is transparently obvious. I believe that the general public of Western Australia, observing what is happening in this Parliament, will make its own judgment.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The advice that I am given is that the decision was made that the children could be returned to their parents. What happened to that child was a tragedy; we know that. The coroner has investigated the matter and has made his findings. The coroner recommended that a review of the processes of the Department for Community Development take place. The government is acting upon that advice. I will it say over and over again: the death of Wade Scale is tragic; it is a matter of profound sadness. To leap from that death to point the finger of blame at the minister of the day is a leap that I do not take. To anyone who takes an interest in these matters, what is happening in this Parliament is transparently obvious. I believe that the general public of Western Australia, observing what is happening in this Parliament, will make its own judgment.
I will it say over and over again: the death of Wade Scale is tragic; it is a matter of profound sadness. To leap from that death to point the finger of blame at the minister of the day is a leap that I do not take. To anyone who takes an interest in these matters, what is happening in this Parliament is transparently obvious. I believe that the general public of Western Australia, observing what is happening in this Parliament, will make its own judgment.

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