❓ Hon Nick Goiran questions the Minister for Police regarding delays in notifying the Working With Children Screening Unit about a police investigation into a contractor taking indecent photos of children. The answer clarifies the notification process and timeline.
AnsweredQoN 145Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — CHILD PROTECTION
145. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to the incorrect answer to
question without notice 1111 on 20 September 2023, which was thereafter the
subject of a correction and apology on 10 October 2023.
(1) Is the
Minister for Police aware that the Minister for Education has informed the
house that on 14 November 2019 the Department of Education first learnt of
police investigations into a contractor who was taking indecent photos of
children in primary and secondary schools?
(2) Is the minister aware that the Minister for
Education has also informed the house that the Western Australia Police
Force was the agency with the responsibility to inform the working with
children screening unit of this matter?
(3) Does the
minister recall that as part of his correction he informed the house that WA
Police did not do this until 15 April 2020?
(4) Is it
usually the case that WA police takes five months to fulfil this
responsibility?
145. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to the incorrect answer to
question without notice 1111 on 20 September 2023, which was thereafter the
subject of a correction and apology on 10 October 2023.
(1) Is the
Minister for Police aware that the Minister for Education has informed the
house that on 14 November 2019 the Department of Education first learnt of
police investigations into a contractor who was taking indecent photos of
children in primary and secondary schools?
(2) Is the minister aware that the Minister for
Education has also informed the house that the Western Australia Police
Force was the agency with the responsibility to inform the working with
children screening unit of this matter?
(3) Does the
minister recall that as part of his correction he informed the house that WA
Police did not do this until 15 April 2020?
(4) Is it
usually the case that WA police takes five months to fulfil this
responsibility?
AnswerView source ↗
I answer on behalf of the Minister
for Emergency Services who is absent on urgent parliamentary business. I thank
the member for some notice of the question. The following information has been
provided to me by the Minister for Police.
(1)–(4) The
Western Australia Police Force advises that the working with children screening
unit—WWCSU—falls within the responsibility of the Department of
Communities. The WA Police Force notified the school on 14 November 2019 as the
mandatory report is not sent to the Department of Education. On 1 July 2023, the WA Police Force and the WWCSU
implemented an automated, near real-time information sharing process.
From this date, the WWCSU is notified automatically when a working with
children cardholder is charged with an offence. Prior to this date, the system
relied on manual effort to identify a charged person as a working with children
cardholder and ensure WWCSU notification.
for Emergency Services who is absent on urgent parliamentary business. I thank
the member for some notice of the question. The following information has been
provided to me by the Minister for Police.
(1)–(4) The
Western Australia Police Force advises that the working with children screening
unit—WWCSU—falls within the responsibility of the Department of
Communities. The WA Police Force notified the school on 14 November 2019 as the
mandatory report is not sent to the Department of Education. On 1 July 2023, the WA Police Force and the WWCSU
implemented an automated, near real-time information sharing process.
From this date, the WWCSU is notified automatically when a working with
children cardholder is charged with an offence. Prior to this date, the system
relied on manual effort to identify a charged person as a working with children
cardholder and ensure WWCSU notification.
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