❓ A WA parliamentary question highlights the lack of mandatory reporting of children witnessing domestic violence to the Department for Community Development, questioning if this is due to budget or a failure to recognise witnessing domestic violence as child abuse. The Minister deflects by attacking the previous government's record.
AnsweredQoN 859Legislative Assembly
Asked
24 June 2003
Member
Portfolio
Community Development, Women’s
Interests, Seniors and Youth
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the Joondalup family violence court pilot project, which found that children were witnesses to 73 per cent of domestic violence cases investigated by police. (1) In light of this alarming statistic, why is there currently no requirement for police to report the involvement of children in these incidents to the Department for Community Development? (2) Is this lack of cross-referencing a direct result of budgetary constraints, or does the minister simply not recognise that witnessing domestic violence is a form of child abuse? Ms S.M. McHALE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) Keep the questions coming, because I will turn them back on members opposite and expose their lack of action for eight years on child abuse. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: The issue of children witnessing domestic violence is one of the worst scourges of our community. As I have said before in this House, domestic violence is one of the worst tragedies of our society. It is not something that any of us should tolerate, nor can it be justified. If children who witness domestic violence are not dealt with and given access to counselling, they can suffer traumas for many years and, in fact, throughout their lives. There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
(1) In light of this alarming statistic, why is there currently no requirement for police to report the involvement of children in these incidents to the Department for Community Development? (2) Is this lack of cross-referencing a direct result of budgetary constraints, or does the minister simply not recognise that witnessing domestic violence is a form of child abuse? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(2) Keep the questions coming, because I will turn them back on members opposite and expose their lack of action for eight years on child abuse. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: The issue of children witnessing domestic violence is one of the worst scourges of our community. As I have said before in this House, domestic violence is one of the worst tragedies of our society. It is not something that any of us should tolerate, nor can it be justified. If children who witness domestic violence are not dealt with and given access to counselling, they can suffer traumas for many years and, in fact, throughout their lives. There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
(2) Is this lack of cross-referencing a direct result of budgetary constraints, or does the minister simply not recognise that witnessing domestic violence is a form of child abuse? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(2) Keep the questions coming, because I will turn them back on members opposite and expose their lack of action for eight years on child abuse. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: The issue of children witnessing domestic violence is one of the worst scourges of our community. As I have said before in this House, domestic violence is one of the worst tragedies of our society. It is not something that any of us should tolerate, nor can it be justified. If children who witness domestic violence are not dealt with and given access to counselling, they can suffer traumas for many years and, in fact, throughout their lives. There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(2) Keep the questions coming, because I will turn them back on members opposite and expose their lack of action for eight years on child abuse. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: The issue of children witnessing domestic violence is one of the worst scourges of our community. As I have said before in this House, domestic violence is one of the worst tragedies of our society. It is not something that any of us should tolerate, nor can it be justified. If children who witness domestic violence are not dealt with and given access to counselling, they can suffer traumas for many years and, in fact, throughout their lives. There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
(1)-(2) Keep the questions coming, because I will turn them back on members opposite and expose their lack of action for eight years on child abuse. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: The issue of children witnessing domestic violence is one of the worst scourges of our community. As I have said before in this House, domestic violence is one of the worst tragedies of our society. It is not something that any of us should tolerate, nor can it be justified. If children who witness domestic violence are not dealt with and given access to counselling, they can suffer traumas for many years and, in fact, throughout their lives. There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: The issue of children witnessing domestic violence is one of the worst scourges of our community. As I have said before in this House, domestic violence is one of the worst tragedies of our society. It is not something that any of us should tolerate, nor can it be justified. If children who witness domestic violence are not dealt with and given access to counselling, they can suffer traumas for many years and, in fact, throughout their lives. There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: The issue of children witnessing domestic violence is one of the worst scourges of our community. As I have said before in this House, domestic violence is one of the worst tragedies of our society. It is not something that any of us should tolerate, nor can it be justified. If children who witness domestic violence are not dealt with and given access to counselling, they can suffer traumas for many years and, in fact, throughout their lives. There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
Ms S.M. McHALE: The issue of children witnessing domestic violence is one of the worst scourges of our community. As I have said before in this House, domestic violence is one of the worst tragedies of our society. It is not something that any of us should tolerate, nor can it be justified. If children who witness domestic violence are not dealt with and given access to counselling, they can suffer traumas for many years and, in fact, throughout their lives. There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
(1) In light of this alarming statistic, why is there currently no requirement for police to report the involvement of children in these incidents to the Department for Community Development? (2) Is this lack of cross-referencing a direct result of budgetary constraints, or does the minister simply not recognise that witnessing domestic violence is a form of child abuse? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(2) Keep the questions coming, because I will turn them back on members opposite and expose their lack of action for eight years on child abuse. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: The issue of children witnessing domestic violence is one of the worst scourges of our community. As I have said before in this House, domestic violence is one of the worst tragedies of our society. It is not something that any of us should tolerate, nor can it be justified. If children who witness domestic violence are not dealt with and given access to counselling, they can suffer traumas for many years and, in fact, throughout their lives. There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
(2) Is this lack of cross-referencing a direct result of budgetary constraints, or does the minister simply not recognise that witnessing domestic violence is a form of child abuse? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(2) Keep the questions coming, because I will turn them back on members opposite and expose their lack of action for eight years on child abuse. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: The issue of children witnessing domestic violence is one of the worst scourges of our community. As I have said before in this House, domestic violence is one of the worst tragedies of our society. It is not something that any of us should tolerate, nor can it be justified. If children who witness domestic violence are not dealt with and given access to counselling, they can suffer traumas for many years and, in fact, throughout their lives. There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(2) Keep the questions coming, because I will turn them back on members opposite and expose their lack of action for eight years on child abuse. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: The issue of children witnessing domestic violence is one of the worst scourges of our community. As I have said before in this House, domestic violence is one of the worst tragedies of our society. It is not something that any of us should tolerate, nor can it be justified. If children who witness domestic violence are not dealt with and given access to counselling, they can suffer traumas for many years and, in fact, throughout their lives. There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
(1)-(2) Keep the questions coming, because I will turn them back on members opposite and expose their lack of action for eight years on child abuse. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: The issue of children witnessing domestic violence is one of the worst scourges of our community. As I have said before in this House, domestic violence is one of the worst tragedies of our society. It is not something that any of us should tolerate, nor can it be justified. If children who witness domestic violence are not dealt with and given access to counselling, they can suffer traumas for many years and, in fact, throughout their lives. There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: The issue of children witnessing domestic violence is one of the worst scourges of our community. As I have said before in this House, domestic violence is one of the worst tragedies of our society. It is not something that any of us should tolerate, nor can it be justified. If children who witness domestic violence are not dealt with and given access to counselling, they can suffer traumas for many years and, in fact, throughout their lives. There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms S.M. McHALE: The issue of children witnessing domestic violence is one of the worst scourges of our community. As I have said before in this House, domestic violence is one of the worst tragedies of our society. It is not something that any of us should tolerate, nor can it be justified. If children who witness domestic violence are not dealt with and given access to counselling, they can suffer traumas for many years and, in fact, throughout their lives. There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
Ms S.M. McHALE: The issue of children witnessing domestic violence is one of the worst scourges of our community. As I have said before in this House, domestic violence is one of the worst tragedies of our society. It is not something that any of us should tolerate, nor can it be justified. If children who witness domestic violence are not dealt with and given access to counselling, they can suffer traumas for many years and, in fact, throughout their lives. There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
There is a debate about whether domestic violence is a form of abuse; indeed it is. Whether it can be categorised as abuse is a different matter. The initiatives that the Government has taken through the homelessness task force and the Gordon inquiry have provided new, additional services. The Opposition cannot accept that this Government has put more money into this area than it has ever dreamed of. That is the first point. We have provided services to children through women’s refuges throughout the State, so our record is a good one. We will continue to develop services because we recognise that this area has been underfunded and neglected for too long. We are not prepared to neglect these critical and very difficult social issues.
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