A parliamentary question seeks information about the duty-of-care unit within the Department for Community Development, including its establishment, staffing, leadership, investigations, and implementation of recommendations from a Senate inquiry into children in institutional care. The Minister provides factual answers but seeks clarification on the specific recommendations.

AnsweredQoN 73Legislative Council
Asked
6 April 2005
Portfolio
Community Development

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the establishment of a duty-of-care unit within the Department for Community Development in relation to abuse-in-care allegations. (1) When was this unit established? (2) How many staff does this unit have? (3) Who is in charge of this unit? (4) Have any allegations or critical incidents been investigated since the unit became operational? (5) How many of the 17 recommendations by the Senate Community Affairs References Committee’s inquiry into children in institutional care will this government implement? Hon SUE ELLERY

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) July 2003. (2) Six people work in the unit, including the manager. (3) Mr John Hancock, director, operational policy. (4) Yes. (5) The first inquiry report had 39 recommendations and the second report had 18 recommendations. Perhaps the member could clarify which recommendations she is referring to. The recommendations with implications for Western Australia are being considered by the state government. Some recommendations from both reports are addressed to the Australian government, while others have national implications.
(1) When was this unit established? (2) How many staff does this unit have? (3) Who is in charge of this unit? (4) Have any allegations or critical incidents been investigated since the unit became operational? (5) How many of the 17 recommendations by the Senate Community Affairs References Committee’s inquiry into children in institutional care will this government implement? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) July 2003. (2) Six people work in the unit, including the manager. (3) Mr John Hancock, director, operational policy. (4) Yes. (5) The first inquiry report had 39 recommendations and the second report had 18 recommendations. Perhaps the member could clarify which recommendations she is referring to. The recommendations with implications for Western Australia are being considered by the state government. Some recommendations from both reports are addressed to the Australian government, while others have national implications.
(2) How many staff does this unit have? (3) Who is in charge of this unit? (4) Have any allegations or critical incidents been investigated since the unit became operational? (5) How many of the 17 recommendations by the Senate Community Affairs References Committee’s inquiry into children in institutional care will this government implement? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) July 2003. (2) Six people work in the unit, including the manager. (3) Mr John Hancock, director, operational policy. (4) Yes. (5) The first inquiry report had 39 recommendations and the second report had 18 recommendations. Perhaps the member could clarify which recommendations she is referring to. The recommendations with implications for Western Australia are being considered by the state government. Some recommendations from both reports are addressed to the Australian government, while others have national implications.
(3) Who is in charge of this unit? (4) Have any allegations or critical incidents been investigated since the unit became operational? (5) How many of the 17 recommendations by the Senate Community Affairs References Committee’s inquiry into children in institutional care will this government implement? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) July 2003. (2) Six people work in the unit, including the manager. (3) Mr John Hancock, director, operational policy. (4) Yes. (5) The first inquiry report had 39 recommendations and the second report had 18 recommendations. Perhaps the member could clarify which recommendations she is referring to. The recommendations with implications for Western Australia are being considered by the state government. Some recommendations from both reports are addressed to the Australian government, while others have national implications.
(4) Have any allegations or critical incidents been investigated since the unit became operational? (5) How many of the 17 recommendations by the Senate Community Affairs References Committee’s inquiry into children in institutional care will this government implement? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) July 2003. (2) Six people work in the unit, including the manager. (3) Mr John Hancock, director, operational policy. (4) Yes. (5) The first inquiry report had 39 recommendations and the second report had 18 recommendations. Perhaps the member could clarify which recommendations she is referring to. The recommendations with implications for Western Australia are being considered by the state government. Some recommendations from both reports are addressed to the Australian government, while others have national implications.
(5) How many of the 17 recommendations by the Senate Community Affairs References Committee’s inquiry into children in institutional care will this government implement? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) July 2003. (2) Six people work in the unit, including the manager. (3) Mr John Hancock, director, operational policy. (4) Yes. (5) The first inquiry report had 39 recommendations and the second report had 18 recommendations. Perhaps the member could clarify which recommendations she is referring to. The recommendations with implications for Western Australia are being considered by the state government. Some recommendations from both reports are addressed to the Australian government, while others have national implications.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) July 2003. (2) Six people work in the unit, including the manager. (3) Mr John Hancock, director, operational policy. (4) Yes. (5) The first inquiry report had 39 recommendations and the second report had 18 recommendations. Perhaps the member could clarify which recommendations she is referring to. The recommendations with implications for Western Australia are being considered by the state government. Some recommendations from both reports are addressed to the Australian government, while others have national implications.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) July 2003. (2) Six people work in the unit, including the manager. (3) Mr John Hancock, director, operational policy. (4) Yes. (5) The first inquiry report had 39 recommendations and the second report had 18 recommendations. Perhaps the member could clarify which recommendations she is referring to. The recommendations with implications for Western Australia are being considered by the state government. Some recommendations from both reports are addressed to the Australian government, while others have national implications.
(1) July 2003. (2) Six people work in the unit, including the manager. (3) Mr John Hancock, director, operational policy. (4) Yes. (5) The first inquiry report had 39 recommendations and the second report had 18 recommendations. Perhaps the member could clarify which recommendations she is referring to. The recommendations with implications for Western Australia are being considered by the state government. Some recommendations from both reports are addressed to the Australian government, while others have national implications.
(2) Six people work in the unit, including the manager. (3) Mr John Hancock, director, operational policy. (4) Yes. (5) The first inquiry report had 39 recommendations and the second report had 18 recommendations. Perhaps the member could clarify which recommendations she is referring to. The recommendations with implications for Western Australia are being considered by the state government. Some recommendations from both reports are addressed to the Australian government, while others have national implications.
(3) Mr John Hancock, director, operational policy. (4) Yes. (5) The first inquiry report had 39 recommendations and the second report had 18 recommendations. Perhaps the member could clarify which recommendations she is referring to. The recommendations with implications for Western Australia are being considered by the state government. Some recommendations from both reports are addressed to the Australian government, while others have national implications.
(4) Yes. (5) The first inquiry report had 39 recommendations and the second report had 18 recommendations. Perhaps the member could clarify which recommendations she is referring to. The recommendations with implications for Western Australia are being considered by the state government. Some recommendations from both reports are addressed to the Australian government, while others have national implications.
(5) The first inquiry report had 39 recommendations and the second report had 18 recommendations. Perhaps the member could clarify which recommendations she is referring to. The recommendations with implications for Western Australia are being considered by the state government. Some recommendations from both reports are addressed to the Australian government, while others have national implications.

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