❓ Ms. Walker questions the Premier about the Child Death Review Committee's limited case review and lack of prioritization, given evidence of children being in jeopardy. The Premier defends the government's actions, citing past inaction by the opposition and legislative changes made.
AnsweredQoN 544Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD DEATH REVIEW COMMITTEE - NUMBER OF CASES REVIEWED
Over a period of four years, 159 children who were known to the Department for Community Development have died. In the two years from 1 July 2003, 176 coroner notifications were received by DCD, of which 94 of those involved had some form of contact with the department. (1) In those two years, why has the Child Death Review Committee reviewed the cases of only 20 of 176 children who have died? (2) This committee noted that, in the files of the majority of the 20 child death cases reviewed so far, there was evidence that the children were in jeopardy prior to their deaths. Given this, why has no priority been given to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of the other 156 children who died within that period? (3) Given that 80 per cent of the review population had issues concerning the care and safety of the children in the family, what is being done to ensure that the safety of other siblings in those families is being monitored? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
Over a period of four years, 159 children who were known to the Department for Community Development have died. In the two years from 1 July 2003, 176 coroner notifications were received by DCD, of which 94 of those involved had some form of contact with the department. (1) In those two years, why has the Child Death Review Committee reviewed the cases of only 20 of 176 children who have died? (2) This committee noted that, in the files of the majority of the 20 child death cases reviewed so far, there was evidence that the children were in jeopardy prior to their deaths. Given this, why has no priority been given to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of the other 156 children who died within that period? (3) Given that 80 per cent of the review population had issues concerning the care and safety of the children in the family, what is being done to ensure that the safety of other siblings in those families is being monitored? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I would have appreciated some notice of that question, which contains an expectation of an enormous amount of detail. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
(1) In those two years, why has the Child Death Review Committee reviewed the cases of only 20 of 176 children who have died? (2) This committee noted that, in the files of the majority of the 20 child death cases reviewed so far, there was evidence that the children were in jeopardy prior to their deaths. Given this, why has no priority been given to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of the other 156 children who died within that period? (3) Given that 80 per cent of the review population had issues concerning the care and safety of the children in the family, what is being done to ensure that the safety of other siblings in those families is being monitored? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I would have appreciated some notice of that question, which contains an expectation of an enormous amount of detail. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
(2) This committee noted that, in the files of the majority of the 20 child death cases reviewed so far, there was evidence that the children were in jeopardy prior to their deaths. Given this, why has no priority been given to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of the other 156 children who died within that period? (3) Given that 80 per cent of the review population had issues concerning the care and safety of the children in the family, what is being done to ensure that the safety of other siblings in those families is being monitored? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I would have appreciated some notice of that question, which contains an expectation of an enormous amount of detail. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
(3) Given that 80 per cent of the review population had issues concerning the care and safety of the children in the family, what is being done to ensure that the safety of other siblings in those families is being monitored? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I would have appreciated some notice of that question, which contains an expectation of an enormous amount of detail. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I would have appreciated some notice of that question, which contains an expectation of an enormous amount of detail. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
(1)-(3) I would have appreciated some notice of that question, which contains an expectation of an enormous amount of detail. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
(1) In those two years, why has the Child Death Review Committee reviewed the cases of only 20 of 176 children who have died? (2) This committee noted that, in the files of the majority of the 20 child death cases reviewed so far, there was evidence that the children were in jeopardy prior to their deaths. Given this, why has no priority been given to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of the other 156 children who died within that period? (3) Given that 80 per cent of the review population had issues concerning the care and safety of the children in the family, what is being done to ensure that the safety of other siblings in those families is being monitored? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I would have appreciated some notice of that question, which contains an expectation of an enormous amount of detail. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
(2) This committee noted that, in the files of the majority of the 20 child death cases reviewed so far, there was evidence that the children were in jeopardy prior to their deaths. Given this, why has no priority been given to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of the other 156 children who died within that period? (3) Given that 80 per cent of the review population had issues concerning the care and safety of the children in the family, what is being done to ensure that the safety of other siblings in those families is being monitored? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I would have appreciated some notice of that question, which contains an expectation of an enormous amount of detail. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
(3) Given that 80 per cent of the review population had issues concerning the care and safety of the children in the family, what is being done to ensure that the safety of other siblings in those families is being monitored? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I would have appreciated some notice of that question, which contains an expectation of an enormous amount of detail. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I would have appreciated some notice of that question, which contains an expectation of an enormous amount of detail. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
(1)-(3) I would have appreciated some notice of that question, which contains an expectation of an enormous amount of detail. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If members are going to characterise the deaths in the way they have, perhaps they would like to provide the outline of the causes of those deaths. Many of those deaths involved traffic accidents, sudden infant death syndrome and a whole range of issues relating to child deaths. What is the member suggesting? Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Ms S.E. Walker : I am suggesting that you should prioritise children in this state and you are not doing so. You function on an ideology that is detrimental to children. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When in government, the opposition had the chance to act and it did nothing! It blocked every move. It tried to stop the creation of a children’s commissioner. Now members opposite are over there barking about the necessity for that appointment. Guess what? I hate to raise this matter, but does anyone in this chamber remember Susan Taylor, the young Aboriginal girl who met her death at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community? Does anybody remember the disgraceful reaction from the opposition when we tried to do something about that camp and about that death? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe for the first time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush - Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We were determined not to just brush that under the carpet in the way that those opposite had done and that was exposed by a member of this Parliament from their own team. The member for Ningaloo exposed the shameful reaction of members opposite in this very chamber. Because of that attitude, we were more than determined to do something about it. We established the Gordon inquiry because of that death. We closed down the Swan Valley camp because of that death and, as a result of that death, we put in place the Child Death Review Committee. We changed the legislation in this Parliament. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have answered that question. We have changed that. The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
The SPEAKER : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member will find that the new legislation came into effect in March. The deaths to which the member for Nedlands referred took place under 1947 legislation that the Court government worked with and did nothing about. It happened under the Court government’s watch. The Liberal Party did nothing, and now it is waving a political banner because it is opportune to do so. What has this government done? It acted on the death when it became evident that action needed to be taken. The government took the flak and pushed the legislation through, against the hysterical opposition of the Liberal Party in the upper house. The government set in place the Gordon inquiry and set up the Child Death Review Committee. The government put in place a new piece of legislation so that government could be effective, and we intend to be. Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process. Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
Yes; there needs to be a greater focus on child protection as the core activity of the Department for Community Development. We should make publicly available what information we can about the ongoing cases that are under review. Last week I said that the government would not do that; I have had reason to reconsider that position. I think we should do that, and I intend to do that. The review of the department will be provided with all the necessary resources. We want to make sure that we put in place a system and a model that has child protection as its focus. That is what we set out to do. Weaknesses have been identified in the model and outcomes presently in place, and we will address them. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Murdoch to order.
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