❓ WA government is implementing recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse regarding Working with Children Checks, with some reservations to ensure existing protections are not compromised. Legislative changes are being considered, and progress is dependent on national standards agreement.
AnsweredQoN 1082Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WORKING WITH CHILDREN
CHECKS
1082. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Leader of the House representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the recommendations of
the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
(1) Does the
minister support all the recommendations of the royal commission with regard to
working with children checks?
(2) If no to (1), which
recommendations are not supported, and why?
(3) If yes to
(1), can the minister provide an update on the status of how the state
government is working to implement recommendations, particularly a nationally
recognised working with children check?
(4) What legislative changes are
being considered, if any?
(5) What
challenges are being faced in relation to working with the commonwealth, as
well as other states and territories, in implementing these recommendations?
CHECKS
1082. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Leader of the House representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the recommendations of
the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
(1) Does the
minister support all the recommendations of the royal commission with regard to
working with children checks?
(2) If no to (1), which
recommendations are not supported, and why?
(3) If yes to
(1), can the minister provide an update on the status of how the state
government is working to implement recommendations, particularly a nationally
recognised working with children check?
(4) What legislative changes are
being considered, if any?
(5) What
challenges are being faced in relation to working with the commonwealth, as
well as other states and territories, in implementing these recommendations?
AnswerView source ↗
I provide the
following response on behalf of the Leader of the House.
(1)–(2) Of
the 36 recommendations made by the royal commission relating to working with
children checks, 34 are applicable to the state government. Of these 34, 30
recommendations are accepted, or accepted in principle. Recommendations 22, 27,
29 and 30 require further consideration to ensure that they are feasible and do
not compromise the existing protections for children in Western Australia.
(3) Of the 30
recommendations accepted, or accepted in principle, a status report outlining
progress will be tabled annually, as detailed in recommendation 17.2 of the
final report of the royal commission.
(4) Legislative
amendments to the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 are
being considered, in line with the WA government's response to the
royal commission's recommendations. Western Australia will only
consider recommended amendments when such amendments will strengthen the
existing safeguards for the protection of children. This may include:
prohibiting people who are denied a working with children card from accessing
the parent volunteer exemption; prescribing disciplinary outcomes by prescribed
disciplinary bodies, proposed to trigger an assessment or reassessment; and
increasing the duration of working with children cards.
(5) The
progression of many of the accepted recommendations are dependent on the
endorsement of the minimum national standards, which are yet to be agreed to by
participating jurisdictions. Western Australia will not compromise any existing
protections for our children.
following response on behalf of the Leader of the House.
(1)–(2) Of
the 36 recommendations made by the royal commission relating to working with
children checks, 34 are applicable to the state government. Of these 34, 30
recommendations are accepted, or accepted in principle. Recommendations 22, 27,
29 and 30 require further consideration to ensure that they are feasible and do
not compromise the existing protections for children in Western Australia.
(3) Of the 30
recommendations accepted, or accepted in principle, a status report outlining
progress will be tabled annually, as detailed in recommendation 17.2 of the
final report of the royal commission.
(4) Legislative
amendments to the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 are
being considered, in line with the WA government's response to the
royal commission's recommendations. Western Australia will only
consider recommended amendments when such amendments will strengthen the
existing safeguards for the protection of children. This may include:
prohibiting people who are denied a working with children card from accessing
the parent volunteer exemption; prescribing disciplinary outcomes by prescribed
disciplinary bodies, proposed to trigger an assessment or reassessment; and
increasing the duration of working with children cards.
(5) The
progression of many of the accepted recommendations are dependent on the
endorsement of the minimum national standards, which are yet to be agreed to by
participating jurisdictions. Western Australia will not compromise any existing
protections for our children.
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