❓ Opposition questions the Labor government's commitment to child protection, citing previous opposition to a children's commissioner and lack of immediate funding. The Minister defends the government's record, emphasizing increased funding for frontline services as the initial priority.
AnsweredQoN 298Legislative Assembly
Asked
2 June 2004
Member
Portfolio
Community Development, Women’s
Interests, Seniors and Youth
QuestionView source ↗
(2) If a Commissioner for Children is a key element of the Labor Government’s approach to child protection, why did Labor Party members of the Legislative Council actively oppose a select committee to investigate the issue? Mr E.S. Ripper: We approved priority on the services first. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Premier! Mr C.J. BARNETT: The Deputy Premier is a bit sensitive. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr C.J. BARNETT: Members opposite are very sensitive. (3) Given that the minister, the Premier and Labor members of Parliament have actively opposed a children’s commissioner for 18 months and that no funding is available to establish this position over the coming year, how can the people of Western Australia take seriously the Labor Party’s and particularly the minister’s commitment to children? Ms S.M. McHALE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Mr E.S. Ripper: We approved priority on the services first. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Premier! Mr C.J. BARNETT: The Deputy Premier is a bit sensitive. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr C.J. BARNETT: Members opposite are very sensitive. (3) Given that the minister, the Premier and Labor members of Parliament have actively opposed a children’s commissioner for 18 months and that no funding is available to establish this position over the coming year, how can the people of Western Australia take seriously the Labor Party’s and particularly the minister’s commitment to children? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Premier! Mr C.J. BARNETT: The Deputy Premier is a bit sensitive. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr C.J. BARNETT: Members opposite are very sensitive. (3) Given that the minister, the Premier and Labor members of Parliament have actively opposed a children’s commissioner for 18 months and that no funding is available to establish this position over the coming year, how can the people of Western Australia take seriously the Labor Party’s and particularly the minister’s commitment to children? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Mr C.J. BARNETT: The Deputy Premier is a bit sensitive. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr C.J. BARNETT: Members opposite are very sensitive. (3) Given that the minister, the Premier and Labor members of Parliament have actively opposed a children’s commissioner for 18 months and that no funding is available to establish this position over the coming year, how can the people of Western Australia take seriously the Labor Party’s and particularly the minister’s commitment to children? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr C.J. BARNETT: Members opposite are very sensitive. (3) Given that the minister, the Premier and Labor members of Parliament have actively opposed a children’s commissioner for 18 months and that no funding is available to establish this position over the coming year, how can the people of Western Australia take seriously the Labor Party’s and particularly the minister’s commitment to children? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
The SPEAKER: Order! Mr C.J. BARNETT: Members opposite are very sensitive. (3) Given that the minister, the Premier and Labor members of Parliament have actively opposed a children’s commissioner for 18 months and that no funding is available to establish this position over the coming year, how can the people of Western Australia take seriously the Labor Party’s and particularly the minister’s commitment to children? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Mr C.J. BARNETT: Members opposite are very sensitive. (3) Given that the minister, the Premier and Labor members of Parliament have actively opposed a children’s commissioner for 18 months and that no funding is available to establish this position over the coming year, how can the people of Western Australia take seriously the Labor Party’s and particularly the minister’s commitment to children? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
(3) Given that the minister, the Premier and Labor members of Parliament have actively opposed a children’s commissioner for 18 months and that no funding is available to establish this position over the coming year, how can the people of Western Australia take seriously the Labor Party’s and particularly the minister’s commitment to children? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
(1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Mr E.S. Ripper: We approved priority on the services first. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Premier! Mr C.J. BARNETT: The Deputy Premier is a bit sensitive. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr C.J. BARNETT: Members opposite are very sensitive. (3) Given that the minister, the Premier and Labor members of Parliament have actively opposed a children’s commissioner for 18 months and that no funding is available to establish this position over the coming year, how can the people of Western Australia take seriously the Labor Party’s and particularly the minister’s commitment to children? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Premier! Mr C.J. BARNETT: The Deputy Premier is a bit sensitive. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr C.J. BARNETT: Members opposite are very sensitive. (3) Given that the minister, the Premier and Labor members of Parliament have actively opposed a children’s commissioner for 18 months and that no funding is available to establish this position over the coming year, how can the people of Western Australia take seriously the Labor Party’s and particularly the minister’s commitment to children? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Mr C.J. BARNETT: The Deputy Premier is a bit sensitive. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr C.J. BARNETT: Members opposite are very sensitive. (3) Given that the minister, the Premier and Labor members of Parliament have actively opposed a children’s commissioner for 18 months and that no funding is available to establish this position over the coming year, how can the people of Western Australia take seriously the Labor Party’s and particularly the minister’s commitment to children? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr C.J. BARNETT: Members opposite are very sensitive. (3) Given that the minister, the Premier and Labor members of Parliament have actively opposed a children’s commissioner for 18 months and that no funding is available to establish this position over the coming year, how can the people of Western Australia take seriously the Labor Party’s and particularly the minister’s commitment to children? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
The SPEAKER: Order! Mr C.J. BARNETT: Members opposite are very sensitive. (3) Given that the minister, the Premier and Labor members of Parliament have actively opposed a children’s commissioner for 18 months and that no funding is available to establish this position over the coming year, how can the people of Western Australia take seriously the Labor Party’s and particularly the minister’s commitment to children? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Mr C.J. BARNETT: Members opposite are very sensitive. (3) Given that the minister, the Premier and Labor members of Parliament have actively opposed a children’s commissioner for 18 months and that no funding is available to establish this position over the coming year, how can the people of Western Australia take seriously the Labor Party’s and particularly the minister’s commitment to children? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
(3) Given that the minister, the Premier and Labor members of Parliament have actively opposed a children’s commissioner for 18 months and that no funding is available to establish this position over the coming year, how can the people of Western Australia take seriously the Labor Party’s and particularly the minister’s commitment to children? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
(1)-(3) Mr Speaker - Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Ms A.J. MacTiernan: What is the theme today? Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Ms S.M. McHALE: Well done, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the minister is capable of answering the question without assistance from members on my right. Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Ms S.M. McHALE: For quite a number of years the Australian Labor Party’s policy has included the establishment of an Office for Children. Therefore, it has been our party policy for several years now. When the Gordon inquiry report came down, the Premier and I made it very clear that our first priority for any increase in funding was front-line support for children and families. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You still haven’t provided it. Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Ms S.M. McHALE: In response to that rather amazing interjection, I remind the member for Kingsley that this year’s budget contains funding for 50 new workers, on top of the 50 workers who were recruited as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Through savings and delays in funding, we have been able to provide 115 new staff to the Department for Community Development. The Premier and I made it very clear that resources needed to go into working with vulnerable children. When, in April 2004, I announced the establishment of a commission, that was after we had delivered that major, historical increase of funding for the department. Therefore, we felt that the next phase of our approach to working with children was a Commissioner for Children. Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Mr C.J. Barnett: You opposed it in Parliament. Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Ms S.M. McHALE: If the Leader of the Opposition was remotely interested in children he would read what I said. In response to the member for Nedlands, I said that we had never opposed a children’s commissioner; our priorities were to employ front-line staff to help vulnerable children. I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
I will expose the Opposition for its lack of attention to children in government. Over the past few years we have seen a build-up of work load pressures in the department that has led to families not being supported in the way that the Premier and I would like. Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Dr G.I. Gallop: Hear, hear! Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Ms S.M. McHALE: We have funded the recruitment of 115 new staff. We believe that will take the pressure away from the very hard working, overworked staff of DCD and will allow them to focus on developing better practices and systems that we are strategically and consistently introducing so that the department can respond to people’s needs. I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
I will defend any decision this Government has made on child protection. A Commissioner for Children is the next phase. We will work with the community to develop a model. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that this Government is not about importing models from other States that do not mean the best for our children in Western Australia. We will develop a model that has some relevance. I will take on the Leader of the Opposition any day when it comes to arguing about the importance of child protection and mandatory reporting. He is a failure on the issue of child protection. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
The SPEAKER: Order! Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
Ms S.M. McHALE: The caring and compassionate face of the opposition spokesperson on the Department for Community Development did not last for more than 12 months before the portfolio was taken away from her. We have demonstrated our commitment by action, not words.
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