❓ Hon Stephen Dawson questions the Minister for Child Protection regarding the timing of public statements related to the Farnell case, specifically why the department's awareness of the baby's situation since May was not disclosed earlier. The Minister defends her actions, stating the focus should remain on the child's safety and denying any cover-up.
AnsweredQoN 1045Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION AND FAMILY SUPPORT —
DAVID FARNELL
1045. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the Farnell case. Why did the minister not reveal
in any of her public statements or commentary from 4 August that her department
had been aware since 15 May that a baby was in the care of Mr Farnell?
DAVID FARNELL
1045. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the Farnell case. Why did the minister not reveal
in any of her public statements or commentary from 4 August that her department
had been aware since 15 May that a baby was in the care of Mr Farnell?
AnswerView source ↗
I know that there has been a lot of discussion around this at
the moment. People need to be aware, and I am absolutely certain that the
member opposite should be aware, that this is not a case that we want
politicised while the process is being undertaken. I do not want to be drawn
into politicising the issues. The focus is and should always remain on ensuring
the ongoing safety of that young girl; she is very young at the moment. In five
years she will be entering school with all the difficulties associated with
that. In 12 years she will be entering high school and then we also have the
issues around that young girl going through to being 18 years old. The focus of
our attention right now is on doing what is in the best interests of that
child. It makes no difference to the best interests of that child whether I met
the public's interest in indicating in any —
Hon Stephen Dawson interjected.
Hon HELEN MORTON : Let me finish. It makes no
difference to the outcome of that assessment by indicating to the public the
time at which I became aware of the issues undertaken in that assessment
process. There is no cover up. I know the member thinks there is a cover up,
but there is no cover up. I found out about the information on 8 August. I did
not need to tell people on 8 August that I heard about the fact that back on 15
May the case had been brought to the attention of the department. There was no
need to make that information public. Why would a person want to make that
information public? It does not achieve anything in the interest of that little
girl. Members opposite should think about that little girl because that is the
important part.
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT :
Order, members! If the banter has finished, I will call Hon Lynn MacLaren.
the moment. People need to be aware, and I am absolutely certain that the
member opposite should be aware, that this is not a case that we want
politicised while the process is being undertaken. I do not want to be drawn
into politicising the issues. The focus is and should always remain on ensuring
the ongoing safety of that young girl; she is very young at the moment. In five
years she will be entering school with all the difficulties associated with
that. In 12 years she will be entering high school and then we also have the
issues around that young girl going through to being 18 years old. The focus of
our attention right now is on doing what is in the best interests of that
child. It makes no difference to the best interests of that child whether I met
the public's interest in indicating in any —
Hon Stephen Dawson interjected.
Hon HELEN MORTON : Let me finish. It makes no
difference to the outcome of that assessment by indicating to the public the
time at which I became aware of the issues undertaken in that assessment
process. There is no cover up. I know the member thinks there is a cover up,
but there is no cover up. I found out about the information on 8 August. I did
not need to tell people on 8 August that I heard about the fact that back on 15
May the case had been brought to the attention of the department. There was no
need to make that information public. Why would a person want to make that
information public? It does not achieve anything in the interest of that little
girl. Members opposite should think about that little girl because that is the
important part.
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT :
Order, members! If the banter has finished, I will call Hon Lynn MacLaren.
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