❓ Question regarding whistleblower legislation applicability to the non-government disability sector and safeguards related to privatization of disability services in WA. The Minister clarifies the existing legislation's scope and highlights the national framework for quality and safeguarding.
AnsweredQoN 418Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DISABILITY
SERVICES — WHISTLEBLOWER LEGISLATION
418. Hon KEN TRAVERS to the Minister for
Disability Services:
I ask this question on behalf of Hon Stephen Dawson.
I refer to measures to protect
people with disability from abuse and neglect in Western Australia.
(1) Can the minister confirm that the
existing whistleblower legislation for the disability sector applies to only
the Disability Services Commission and other state government employees?
(2) If yes to (1), will the minister
introduce whistleblower legislation that applies to all workers in the
non-government disability sector?
(3) What percentage of all disability
workers in Western Australia are state government employees and what is the
projected percentage in two years' time?
(4) With the state government moving
towards privatisation of disability services in Western Australia, can the
minister confirm what safeguards the government will introduce to Parliament in
2015 to ensure stronger accountability and governance provisions in non-government
organisations?
SERVICES — WHISTLEBLOWER LEGISLATION
418. Hon KEN TRAVERS to the Minister for
Disability Services:
I ask this question on behalf of Hon Stephen Dawson.
I refer to measures to protect
people with disability from abuse and neglect in Western Australia.
(1) Can the minister confirm that the
existing whistleblower legislation for the disability sector applies to only
the Disability Services Commission and other state government employees?
(2) If yes to (1), will the minister
introduce whistleblower legislation that applies to all workers in the
non-government disability sector?
(3) What percentage of all disability
workers in Western Australia are state government employees and what is the
projected percentage in two years' time?
(4) With the state government moving
towards privatisation of disability services in Western Australia, can the
minister confirm what safeguards the government will introduce to Parliament in
2015 to ensure stronger accountability and governance provisions in non-government
organisations?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. I answer on behalf of the Minister for Disability Services.
(1) The honourable member is incorrect.
The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003 is not limited to the Disability
Services Commission or government employees. This act allows any person to make
a protected disclosure about improper conduct by a public authority, a public
officer or a public sector contractor as defined in the act. A public sector
contractor is capable of extending to cover persons working for contractors to
supply services on behalf of the state. This includes the 114 disability
service organisations funded by the commission to provide services to people
with disability in Western Australia.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) The Disability Services Commission
does not require not-for-profit disability sector organisations to provide data
on the size of their workforce. However, approximately 71 per cent of all
disability services are provided in the non-government sector. More than 20 per
cent of people with disability in Western Australia self-manage their own
support arrangements. The commission does not collect data from people with
disability on the number of support workers they choose to engage.
Consequently, it is not possible to provide the percentage of all disability
workers in Western Australia who are state government employees either now or
in two years' time.
(4) Please refer to my ministerial
statement of yesterday regarding the national framework. The quality and
safeguarding system that exists within the disability services sector is the
same across government and non-government service providers.
some notice of the question. I answer on behalf of the Minister for Disability Services.
(1) The honourable member is incorrect.
The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003 is not limited to the Disability
Services Commission or government employees. This act allows any person to make
a protected disclosure about improper conduct by a public authority, a public
officer or a public sector contractor as defined in the act. A public sector
contractor is capable of extending to cover persons working for contractors to
supply services on behalf of the state. This includes the 114 disability
service organisations funded by the commission to provide services to people
with disability in Western Australia.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) The Disability Services Commission
does not require not-for-profit disability sector organisations to provide data
on the size of their workforce. However, approximately 71 per cent of all
disability services are provided in the non-government sector. More than 20 per
cent of people with disability in Western Australia self-manage their own
support arrangements. The commission does not collect data from people with
disability on the number of support workers they choose to engage.
Consequently, it is not possible to provide the percentage of all disability
workers in Western Australia who are state government employees either now or
in two years' time.
(4) Please refer to my ministerial
statement of yesterday regarding the national framework. The quality and
safeguarding system that exists within the disability services sector is the
same across government and non-government service providers.
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