❓ Opposition MP questions the government's progress on employing additional child protection workers in response to the Gordon inquiry report, alleging significant delays and misallocation of resources. The Minister's response is somewhat evasive and contradictory, citing various stages of appointment and appeals.
AnsweredQoN 1120Legislative Assembly
Asked
23 September 2003
Member
Portfolio
Community Development, Women’s Interests, Seniors and Youth
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the Government’s response to the Gordon inquiry report on child abuse in Aboriginal communities, released on 3 December 2002, which stated that - Almost immediately the Government will: · Employ 10 additional Child Protection Workers . . . In 2003-4 the Government will: · Employ an additional 15 Child Protection Workers, increasing the number of new Child Protection Workers . . . (1) Will the minister confirm that in fact nine months after the release of the Government’s response and three months into the 2003-04 financial year, this Government has appointed only two additional child protection officers? (2) Will the minister also confirm that these two child protection workers have commenced work in the metropolitan area, not in the remote communities where they are so desperately needed? (3) When will this Government stop grandstanding and provide the real, on-the-ground resources to tackle this issue? Ms S.M. McHALE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I can confirm to the House that more than two child protection officers have now been appointed. There is a question of timing and the - Opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: Mr Speaker, without specific notice of the question, I am going to rely on memory, but I can tell the member that about 10 have been appointed. Three are currently subject to appeals. Two offers have been made and accepted, but those two people are currently doing other work. Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
(2) Will the minister also confirm that these two child protection workers have commenced work in the metropolitan area, not in the remote communities where they are so desperately needed? (3) When will this Government stop grandstanding and provide the real, on-the-ground resources to tackle this issue? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) I can confirm to the House that more than two child protection officers have now been appointed. There is a question of timing and the - Opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: Mr Speaker, without specific notice of the question, I am going to rely on memory, but I can tell the member that about 10 have been appointed. Three are currently subject to appeals. Two offers have been made and accepted, but those two people are currently doing other work. Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
(3) When will this Government stop grandstanding and provide the real, on-the-ground resources to tackle this issue? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) I can confirm to the House that more than two child protection officers have now been appointed. There is a question of timing and the - Opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: Mr Speaker, without specific notice of the question, I am going to rely on memory, but I can tell the member that about 10 have been appointed. Three are currently subject to appeals. Two offers have been made and accepted, but those two people are currently doing other work. Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) I can confirm to the House that more than two child protection officers have now been appointed. There is a question of timing and the - Opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: Mr Speaker, without specific notice of the question, I am going to rely on memory, but I can tell the member that about 10 have been appointed. Three are currently subject to appeals. Two offers have been made and accepted, but those two people are currently doing other work. Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
(1)-(3) I can confirm to the House that more than two child protection officers have now been appointed. There is a question of timing and the - Opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: Mr Speaker, without specific notice of the question, I am going to rely on memory, but I can tell the member that about 10 have been appointed. Three are currently subject to appeals. Two offers have been made and accepted, but those two people are currently doing other work. Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
Opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: Mr Speaker, without specific notice of the question, I am going to rely on memory, but I can tell the member that about 10 have been appointed. Three are currently subject to appeals. Two offers have been made and accepted, but those two people are currently doing other work. Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: Mr Speaker, without specific notice of the question, I am going to rely on memory, but I can tell the member that about 10 have been appointed. Three are currently subject to appeals. Two offers have been made and accepted, but those two people are currently doing other work. Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
Ms S.M. McHALE: Mr Speaker, without specific notice of the question, I am going to rely on memory, but I can tell the member that about 10 have been appointed. Three are currently subject to appeals. Two offers have been made and accepted, but those two people are currently doing other work. Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
(2) Will the minister also confirm that these two child protection workers have commenced work in the metropolitan area, not in the remote communities where they are so desperately needed? (3) When will this Government stop grandstanding and provide the real, on-the-ground resources to tackle this issue? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) I can confirm to the House that more than two child protection officers have now been appointed. There is a question of timing and the - Opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: Mr Speaker, without specific notice of the question, I am going to rely on memory, but I can tell the member that about 10 have been appointed. Three are currently subject to appeals. Two offers have been made and accepted, but those two people are currently doing other work. Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
(3) When will this Government stop grandstanding and provide the real, on-the-ground resources to tackle this issue? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) I can confirm to the House that more than two child protection officers have now been appointed. There is a question of timing and the - Opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: Mr Speaker, without specific notice of the question, I am going to rely on memory, but I can tell the member that about 10 have been appointed. Three are currently subject to appeals. Two offers have been made and accepted, but those two people are currently doing other work. Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) I can confirm to the House that more than two child protection officers have now been appointed. There is a question of timing and the - Opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: Mr Speaker, without specific notice of the question, I am going to rely on memory, but I can tell the member that about 10 have been appointed. Three are currently subject to appeals. Two offers have been made and accepted, but those two people are currently doing other work. Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
(1)-(3) I can confirm to the House that more than two child protection officers have now been appointed. There is a question of timing and the - Opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: Mr Speaker, without specific notice of the question, I am going to rely on memory, but I can tell the member that about 10 have been appointed. Three are currently subject to appeals. Two offers have been made and accepted, but those two people are currently doing other work. Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
Opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: Mr Speaker, without specific notice of the question, I am going to rely on memory, but I can tell the member that about 10 have been appointed. Three are currently subject to appeals. Two offers have been made and accepted, but those two people are currently doing other work. Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: Mr Speaker, without specific notice of the question, I am going to rely on memory, but I can tell the member that about 10 have been appointed. Three are currently subject to appeals. Two offers have been made and accepted, but those two people are currently doing other work. Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
Ms S.M. McHALE: Mr Speaker, without specific notice of the question, I am going to rely on memory, but I can tell the member that about 10 have been appointed. Three are currently subject to appeals. Two offers have been made and accepted, but those two people are currently doing other work. Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
Mr R.F. Johnson: So none are doing the work? The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
Ms S.M. McHALE: That is 14. Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
Ms S.M. McHALE: Because the member has been caught out he does not want to hear the answer. About nine appointments have been made. A further three child protection positions are subject to appeal, and two more have been offered and accepted and they are subject to a process. Ten positions will be readvertised. Some of those positions were advertised and earmarked specifically as 50(d) appointments; that is, reserved specifically for Aboriginal people. We are now opening those positions up. The process has taken longer than we on this side would have liked, but I assure the House that we have now appointed at least nine child protection officers and three more are subject to an appeal process.
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