❓ A parliamentary question regarding the death of a 15-year-old boy in the care of the Department for Child Protection, seeking confirmation of his status, inquiry details, and explanation for the community and family. The Minister responds with a personal anecdote about knowing the boy.
AnsweredQoN 4Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT
FOR CHILD PROTECTION — CHILD FATALITY
4. Hon SALLY
TALBOT to the Minister for Child Protection:
I draw the minister's attention to media reports that
a 15-year-old boy in the care of the Department for Child Protection became
lost in bushland on the Dampier Peninsula and died alone in horrific
circumstances last month.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that the child was in the care of the chief executive officer?
(2) What level
of inquiry has the minister instigated into this tragedy?
(3) When will
the minister be in a position to offer this child's community and
family an explanation of the events leading up to the child's death?
FOR CHILD PROTECTION — CHILD FATALITY
4. Hon SALLY
TALBOT to the Minister for Child Protection:
I draw the minister's attention to media reports that
a 15-year-old boy in the care of the Department for Child Protection became
lost in bushland on the Dampier Peninsula and died alone in horrific
circumstances last month.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that the child was in the care of the chief executive officer?
(2) What level
of inquiry has the minister instigated into this tragedy?
(3) When will
the minister be in a position to offer this child's community and
family an explanation of the events leading up to the child's death?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
(1)–(3)
It is actually fortuitous that I was also aware of this child through my
ministerial portfolio as Minister for Disability Services and had the
opportunity to meet the young man when I was in his home town some time in the
middle of last year. Of course hearing about the tragic events related to his
death affected me both as the Minister for Disability Services as well as the
Minister for Child Protection. This young man composed a song for me when I was
up there. He sang this song to me and strummed his guitar while we sat together
on a lounge chair. I know him quite well through that process. It was very
difficult to realise that this was the same young man who had that tragic end
to his life. I have been fully briefed around the circumstances relating to his
death; they are indeed tragic. That information is well known to people both in
the community already and to people in my ministerial office.
(1)–(3)
It is actually fortuitous that I was also aware of this child through my
ministerial portfolio as Minister for Disability Services and had the
opportunity to meet the young man when I was in his home town some time in the
middle of last year. Of course hearing about the tragic events related to his
death affected me both as the Minister for Disability Services as well as the
Minister for Child Protection. This young man composed a song for me when I was
up there. He sang this song to me and strummed his guitar while we sat together
on a lounge chair. I know him quite well through that process. It was very
difficult to realise that this was the same young man who had that tragic end
to his life. I have been fully briefed around the circumstances relating to his
death; they are indeed tragic. That information is well known to people both in
the community already and to people in my ministerial office.
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