❓ Mr. Johnson questions the Minister about the Department for Community Development's culture and a review's effectiveness, citing a confidential report and author's doubts. The Minister defends the government's approach, emphasizing the complexity of cases and ongoing efforts.
AnsweredQoN 620Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - SHAFER AND HARRIES REPORT
I refer to the confidential report by Dr Allan Shafer and Associate Professor Maria Harries. (1) Given that this is yet another report that highlights the problematic culture within the Department for Community Development in dealing with people in need, why does the minister insist on implementing a smoke and mirrors review that is capable only of addressing the symptoms, not the cause of the problems? (2) How does the minister respond to comments from one of the authors of the report, doubting that the review would be able to penetrate the core and systemic problems within the Department for Community Development? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN
I refer to the confidential report by Dr Allan Shafer and Associate Professor Maria Harries. (1) Given that this is yet another report that highlights the problematic culture within the Department for Community Development in dealing with people in need, why does the minister insist on implementing a smoke and mirrors review that is capable only of addressing the symptoms, not the cause of the problems? (2) How does the minister respond to comments from one of the authors of the report, doubting that the review would be able to penetrate the core and systemic problems within the Department for Community Development? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. I will not mention the particular case, because it is not appropriate. I know the member has followed this case closely. I have spoken to the member for Avon and other members who have highlighted this case. It is a very complex case. Yesterday the opposition accused the government of not taking children from families; today the government is being accused of taking children from their parents. This case is complex and requires close attention. I say to the member for Hillarys that in cases such as this one, the government will ensure that the department will be properly resourced and will look at cases on their individual merits. The fact is that all cases are different. The opposition will continue to highlight these cases, and that is fine. The government will continue to work at putting in place proper and effective measures. The member is referring to a case that will soon be before the Children’s Court. The government will work to ensure that the very best practices are in place. I have accepted the comments made by the reviewers. I have read the reviewers’ report and I have met the reviewers. I have gone through their recommendations in detail. The government has been working very closely with that family. We have kept members well and truly up to date with this case and we will continue to do so. I think that fully answers the member’s question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, this is unacceptable. I do not know whether the member for Perth was asking a question or not. The din was at an unacceptable level. There are now four members on three warnings each. The next time I have to address one of them, I will stop question time. It is clear that not all members want question time to continue. Question time will end if any one of those four people offends again.
(1) Given that this is yet another report that highlights the problematic culture within the Department for Community Development in dealing with people in need, why does the minister insist on implementing a smoke and mirrors review that is capable only of addressing the symptoms, not the cause of the problems? (2) How does the minister respond to comments from one of the authors of the report, doubting that the review would be able to penetrate the core and systemic problems within the Department for Community Development? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. I will not mention the particular case, because it is not appropriate. I know the member has followed this case closely. I have spoken to the member for Avon and other members who have highlighted this case. It is a very complex case. Yesterday the opposition accused the government of not taking children from families; today the government is being accused of taking children from their parents. This case is complex and requires close attention. I say to the member for Hillarys that in cases such as this one, the government will ensure that the department will be properly resourced and will look at cases on their individual merits. The fact is that all cases are different. The opposition will continue to highlight these cases, and that is fine. The government will continue to work at putting in place proper and effective measures. The member is referring to a case that will soon be before the Children’s Court. The government will work to ensure that the very best practices are in place. I have accepted the comments made by the reviewers. I have read the reviewers’ report and I have met the reviewers. I have gone through their recommendations in detail. The government has been working very closely with that family. We have kept members well and truly up to date with this case and we will continue to do so. I think that fully answers the member’s question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, this is unacceptable. I do not know whether the member for Perth was asking a question or not. The din was at an unacceptable level. There are now four members on three warnings each. The next time I have to address one of them, I will stop question time. It is clear that not all members want question time to continue. Question time will end if any one of those four people offends again.
(2) How does the minister respond to comments from one of the authors of the report, doubting that the review would be able to penetrate the core and systemic problems within the Department for Community Development? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. I will not mention the particular case, because it is not appropriate. I know the member has followed this case closely. I have spoken to the member for Avon and other members who have highlighted this case. It is a very complex case. Yesterday the opposition accused the government of not taking children from families; today the government is being accused of taking children from their parents. This case is complex and requires close attention. I say to the member for Hillarys that in cases such as this one, the government will ensure that the department will be properly resourced and will look at cases on their individual merits. The fact is that all cases are different. The opposition will continue to highlight these cases, and that is fine. The government will continue to work at putting in place proper and effective measures. The member is referring to a case that will soon be before the Children’s Court. The government will work to ensure that the very best practices are in place. I have accepted the comments made by the reviewers. I have read the reviewers’ report and I have met the reviewers. I have gone through their recommendations in detail. The government has been working very closely with that family. We have kept members well and truly up to date with this case and we will continue to do so. I think that fully answers the member’s question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, this is unacceptable. I do not know whether the member for Perth was asking a question or not. The din was at an unacceptable level. There are now four members on three warnings each. The next time I have to address one of them, I will stop question time. It is clear that not all members want question time to continue. Question time will end if any one of those four people offends again.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. I will not mention the particular case, because it is not appropriate. I know the member has followed this case closely. I have spoken to the member for Avon and other members who have highlighted this case. It is a very complex case. Yesterday the opposition accused the government of not taking children from families; today the government is being accused of taking children from their parents. This case is complex and requires close attention. I say to the member for Hillarys that in cases such as this one, the government will ensure that the department will be properly resourced and will look at cases on their individual merits. The fact is that all cases are different. The opposition will continue to highlight these cases, and that is fine. The government will continue to work at putting in place proper and effective measures. The member is referring to a case that will soon be before the Children’s Court. The government will work to ensure that the very best practices are in place. I have accepted the comments made by the reviewers. I have read the reviewers’ report and I have met the reviewers. I have gone through their recommendations in detail. The government has been working very closely with that family. We have kept members well and truly up to date with this case and we will continue to do so. I think that fully answers the member’s question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, this is unacceptable. I do not know whether the member for Perth was asking a question or not. The din was at an unacceptable level. There are now four members on three warnings each. The next time I have to address one of them, I will stop question time. It is clear that not all members want question time to continue. Question time will end if any one of those four people offends again.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. I will not mention the particular case, because it is not appropriate. I know the member has followed this case closely. I have spoken to the member for Avon and other members who have highlighted this case. It is a very complex case. Yesterday the opposition accused the government of not taking children from families; today the government is being accused of taking children from their parents. This case is complex and requires close attention. I say to the member for Hillarys that in cases such as this one, the government will ensure that the department will be properly resourced and will look at cases on their individual merits. The fact is that all cases are different. The opposition will continue to highlight these cases, and that is fine. The government will continue to work at putting in place proper and effective measures. The member is referring to a case that will soon be before the Children’s Court. The government will work to ensure that the very best practices are in place. I have accepted the comments made by the reviewers. I have read the reviewers’ report and I have met the reviewers. I have gone through their recommendations in detail. The government has been working very closely with that family. We have kept members well and truly up to date with this case and we will continue to do so. I think that fully answers the member’s question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, this is unacceptable. I do not know whether the member for Perth was asking a question or not. The din was at an unacceptable level. There are now four members on three warnings each. The next time I have to address one of them, I will stop question time. It is clear that not all members want question time to continue. Question time will end if any one of those four people offends again.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, this is unacceptable. I do not know whether the member for Perth was asking a question or not. The din was at an unacceptable level. There are now four members on three warnings each. The next time I have to address one of them, I will stop question time. It is clear that not all members want question time to continue. Question time will end if any one of those four people offends again.
The SPEAKER : Members, this is unacceptable. I do not know whether the member for Perth was asking a question or not. The din was at an unacceptable level. There are now four members on three warnings each. The next time I have to address one of them, I will stop question time. It is clear that not all members want question time to continue. Question time will end if any one of those four people offends again.
(1) Given that this is yet another report that highlights the problematic culture within the Department for Community Development in dealing with people in need, why does the minister insist on implementing a smoke and mirrors review that is capable only of addressing the symptoms, not the cause of the problems? (2) How does the minister respond to comments from one of the authors of the report, doubting that the review would be able to penetrate the core and systemic problems within the Department for Community Development? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. I will not mention the particular case, because it is not appropriate. I know the member has followed this case closely. I have spoken to the member for Avon and other members who have highlighted this case. It is a very complex case. Yesterday the opposition accused the government of not taking children from families; today the government is being accused of taking children from their parents. This case is complex and requires close attention. I say to the member for Hillarys that in cases such as this one, the government will ensure that the department will be properly resourced and will look at cases on their individual merits. The fact is that all cases are different. The opposition will continue to highlight these cases, and that is fine. The government will continue to work at putting in place proper and effective measures. The member is referring to a case that will soon be before the Children’s Court. The government will work to ensure that the very best practices are in place. I have accepted the comments made by the reviewers. I have read the reviewers’ report and I have met the reviewers. I have gone through their recommendations in detail. The government has been working very closely with that family. We have kept members well and truly up to date with this case and we will continue to do so. I think that fully answers the member’s question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, this is unacceptable. I do not know whether the member for Perth was asking a question or not. The din was at an unacceptable level. There are now four members on three warnings each. The next time I have to address one of them, I will stop question time. It is clear that not all members want question time to continue. Question time will end if any one of those four people offends again.
(2) How does the minister respond to comments from one of the authors of the report, doubting that the review would be able to penetrate the core and systemic problems within the Department for Community Development? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. I will not mention the particular case, because it is not appropriate. I know the member has followed this case closely. I have spoken to the member for Avon and other members who have highlighted this case. It is a very complex case. Yesterday the opposition accused the government of not taking children from families; today the government is being accused of taking children from their parents. This case is complex and requires close attention. I say to the member for Hillarys that in cases such as this one, the government will ensure that the department will be properly resourced and will look at cases on their individual merits. The fact is that all cases are different. The opposition will continue to highlight these cases, and that is fine. The government will continue to work at putting in place proper and effective measures. The member is referring to a case that will soon be before the Children’s Court. The government will work to ensure that the very best practices are in place. I have accepted the comments made by the reviewers. I have read the reviewers’ report and I have met the reviewers. I have gone through their recommendations in detail. The government has been working very closely with that family. We have kept members well and truly up to date with this case and we will continue to do so. I think that fully answers the member’s question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, this is unacceptable. I do not know whether the member for Perth was asking a question or not. The din was at an unacceptable level. There are now four members on three warnings each. The next time I have to address one of them, I will stop question time. It is clear that not all members want question time to continue. Question time will end if any one of those four people offends again.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. I will not mention the particular case, because it is not appropriate. I know the member has followed this case closely. I have spoken to the member for Avon and other members who have highlighted this case. It is a very complex case. Yesterday the opposition accused the government of not taking children from families; today the government is being accused of taking children from their parents. This case is complex and requires close attention. I say to the member for Hillarys that in cases such as this one, the government will ensure that the department will be properly resourced and will look at cases on their individual merits. The fact is that all cases are different. The opposition will continue to highlight these cases, and that is fine. The government will continue to work at putting in place proper and effective measures. The member is referring to a case that will soon be before the Children’s Court. The government will work to ensure that the very best practices are in place. I have accepted the comments made by the reviewers. I have read the reviewers’ report and I have met the reviewers. I have gone through their recommendations in detail. The government has been working very closely with that family. We have kept members well and truly up to date with this case and we will continue to do so. I think that fully answers the member’s question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, this is unacceptable. I do not know whether the member for Perth was asking a question or not. The din was at an unacceptable level. There are now four members on three warnings each. The next time I have to address one of them, I will stop question time. It is clear that not all members want question time to continue. Question time will end if any one of those four people offends again.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. I will not mention the particular case, because it is not appropriate. I know the member has followed this case closely. I have spoken to the member for Avon and other members who have highlighted this case. It is a very complex case. Yesterday the opposition accused the government of not taking children from families; today the government is being accused of taking children from their parents. This case is complex and requires close attention. I say to the member for Hillarys that in cases such as this one, the government will ensure that the department will be properly resourced and will look at cases on their individual merits. The fact is that all cases are different. The opposition will continue to highlight these cases, and that is fine. The government will continue to work at putting in place proper and effective measures. The member is referring to a case that will soon be before the Children’s Court. The government will work to ensure that the very best practices are in place. I have accepted the comments made by the reviewers. I have read the reviewers’ report and I have met the reviewers. I have gone through their recommendations in detail. The government has been working very closely with that family. We have kept members well and truly up to date with this case and we will continue to do so. I think that fully answers the member’s question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, this is unacceptable. I do not know whether the member for Perth was asking a question or not. The din was at an unacceptable level. There are now four members on three warnings each. The next time I have to address one of them, I will stop question time. It is clear that not all members want question time to continue. Question time will end if any one of those four people offends again.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, this is unacceptable. I do not know whether the member for Perth was asking a question or not. The din was at an unacceptable level. There are now four members on three warnings each. The next time I have to address one of them, I will stop question time. It is clear that not all members want question time to continue. Question time will end if any one of those four people offends again.
The SPEAKER : Members, this is unacceptable. I do not know whether the member for Perth was asking a question or not. The din was at an unacceptable level. There are now four members on three warnings each. The next time I have to address one of them, I will stop question time. It is clear that not all members want question time to continue. Question time will end if any one of those four people offends again.
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