❓ Opposition Leader Omodei questions the government's commitment to child protection and mandatory reporting of child abuse. Minister Templeman affirms the government's commitment, highlighting past achievements and existing reporting mechanisms, while criticising the previous government's inaction.
AnsweredQoN 555Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD ABUSE - MANDATORY REPORTING
Earlier today I gave notice that I would introduce into Parliament a bill that will provide for mandatory reporting of child abuse. Given the minister’s statement yesterday that he wanted child protection to be the number one priority of the Department for Community Development, I ask - (1) Is the minister’s government committed to doing everything it can to protect children from abuse? (2) Will the minister support legislation to put in place mandatory reporting of child abuse in Western Australia; and, if not, why not? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN
Earlier today I gave notice that I would introduce into Parliament a bill that will provide for mandatory reporting of child abuse. Given the minister’s statement yesterday that he wanted child protection to be the number one priority of the Department for Community Development, I ask - (1) Is the minister’s government committed to doing everything it can to protect children from abuse? (2) Will the minister support legislation to put in place mandatory reporting of child abuse in Western Australia; and, if not, why not? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. (1) The answer to the first question about the government being committed to child protection is a defiant yes. This government has a very strong history of demonstrating that the protection of children is the ultimate priority of the government. We have a very proud record in the past five years on this issue. We are the government that modernised outdated legislation. In 2004 we enacted the Children and Community Services Act, which put in place very strong legislative measures to ensure that better practices and policies are delivered for child protection. In the eight years that the previous government was in power, it did nothing to amend legislation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : The interjections from members on my left are clearly designed to prevent the minister from answering the question. I will not tolerate them. If I have to call every member on the left side of the chamber to order during question time, I will. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
(1) Is the minister’s government committed to doing everything it can to protect children from abuse? (2) Will the minister support legislation to put in place mandatory reporting of child abuse in Western Australia; and, if not, why not? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. (1) The answer to the first question about the government being committed to child protection is a defiant yes. This government has a very strong history of demonstrating that the protection of children is the ultimate priority of the government. We have a very proud record in the past five years on this issue. We are the government that modernised outdated legislation. In 2004 we enacted the Children and Community Services Act, which put in place very strong legislative measures to ensure that better practices and policies are delivered for child protection. In the eight years that the previous government was in power, it did nothing to amend legislation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : The interjections from members on my left are clearly designed to prevent the minister from answering the question. I will not tolerate them. If I have to call every member on the left side of the chamber to order during question time, I will. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
(2) Will the minister support legislation to put in place mandatory reporting of child abuse in Western Australia; and, if not, why not? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. (1) The answer to the first question about the government being committed to child protection is a defiant yes. This government has a very strong history of demonstrating that the protection of children is the ultimate priority of the government. We have a very proud record in the past five years on this issue. We are the government that modernised outdated legislation. In 2004 we enacted the Children and Community Services Act, which put in place very strong legislative measures to ensure that better practices and policies are delivered for child protection. In the eight years that the previous government was in power, it did nothing to amend legislation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : The interjections from members on my left are clearly designed to prevent the minister from answering the question. I will not tolerate them. If I have to call every member on the left side of the chamber to order during question time, I will. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. (1) The answer to the first question about the government being committed to child protection is a defiant yes. This government has a very strong history of demonstrating that the protection of children is the ultimate priority of the government. We have a very proud record in the past five years on this issue. We are the government that modernised outdated legislation. In 2004 we enacted the Children and Community Services Act, which put in place very strong legislative measures to ensure that better practices and policies are delivered for child protection. In the eight years that the previous government was in power, it did nothing to amend legislation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : The interjections from members on my left are clearly designed to prevent the minister from answering the question. I will not tolerate them. If I have to call every member on the left side of the chamber to order during question time, I will. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. (1) The answer to the first question about the government being committed to child protection is a defiant yes. This government has a very strong history of demonstrating that the protection of children is the ultimate priority of the government. We have a very proud record in the past five years on this issue. We are the government that modernised outdated legislation. In 2004 we enacted the Children and Community Services Act, which put in place very strong legislative measures to ensure that better practices and policies are delivered for child protection. In the eight years that the previous government was in power, it did nothing to amend legislation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : The interjections from members on my left are clearly designed to prevent the minister from answering the question. I will not tolerate them. If I have to call every member on the left side of the chamber to order during question time, I will. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
(1) The answer to the first question about the government being committed to child protection is a defiant yes. This government has a very strong history of demonstrating that the protection of children is the ultimate priority of the government. We have a very proud record in the past five years on this issue. We are the government that modernised outdated legislation. In 2004 we enacted the Children and Community Services Act, which put in place very strong legislative measures to ensure that better practices and policies are delivered for child protection. In the eight years that the previous government was in power, it did nothing to amend legislation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : The interjections from members on my left are clearly designed to prevent the minister from answering the question. I will not tolerate them. If I have to call every member on the left side of the chamber to order during question time, I will. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : The interjections from members on my left are clearly designed to prevent the minister from answering the question. I will not tolerate them. If I have to call every member on the left side of the chamber to order during question time, I will. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
The SPEAKER : The interjections from members on my left are clearly designed to prevent the minister from answering the question. I will not tolerate them. If I have to call every member on the left side of the chamber to order during question time, I will. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
(2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
(1) Is the minister’s government committed to doing everything it can to protect children from abuse? (2) Will the minister support legislation to put in place mandatory reporting of child abuse in Western Australia; and, if not, why not? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. (1) The answer to the first question about the government being committed to child protection is a defiant yes. This government has a very strong history of demonstrating that the protection of children is the ultimate priority of the government. We have a very proud record in the past five years on this issue. We are the government that modernised outdated legislation. In 2004 we enacted the Children and Community Services Act, which put in place very strong legislative measures to ensure that better practices and policies are delivered for child protection. In the eight years that the previous government was in power, it did nothing to amend legislation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : The interjections from members on my left are clearly designed to prevent the minister from answering the question. I will not tolerate them. If I have to call every member on the left side of the chamber to order during question time, I will. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
(2) Will the minister support legislation to put in place mandatory reporting of child abuse in Western Australia; and, if not, why not? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. (1) The answer to the first question about the government being committed to child protection is a defiant yes. This government has a very strong history of demonstrating that the protection of children is the ultimate priority of the government. We have a very proud record in the past five years on this issue. We are the government that modernised outdated legislation. In 2004 we enacted the Children and Community Services Act, which put in place very strong legislative measures to ensure that better practices and policies are delivered for child protection. In the eight years that the previous government was in power, it did nothing to amend legislation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : The interjections from members on my left are clearly designed to prevent the minister from answering the question. I will not tolerate them. If I have to call every member on the left side of the chamber to order during question time, I will. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. (1) The answer to the first question about the government being committed to child protection is a defiant yes. This government has a very strong history of demonstrating that the protection of children is the ultimate priority of the government. We have a very proud record in the past five years on this issue. We are the government that modernised outdated legislation. In 2004 we enacted the Children and Community Services Act, which put in place very strong legislative measures to ensure that better practices and policies are delivered for child protection. In the eight years that the previous government was in power, it did nothing to amend legislation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : The interjections from members on my left are clearly designed to prevent the minister from answering the question. I will not tolerate them. If I have to call every member on the left side of the chamber to order during question time, I will. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. (1) The answer to the first question about the government being committed to child protection is a defiant yes. This government has a very strong history of demonstrating that the protection of children is the ultimate priority of the government. We have a very proud record in the past five years on this issue. We are the government that modernised outdated legislation. In 2004 we enacted the Children and Community Services Act, which put in place very strong legislative measures to ensure that better practices and policies are delivered for child protection. In the eight years that the previous government was in power, it did nothing to amend legislation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : The interjections from members on my left are clearly designed to prevent the minister from answering the question. I will not tolerate them. If I have to call every member on the left side of the chamber to order during question time, I will. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
(1) The answer to the first question about the government being committed to child protection is a defiant yes. This government has a very strong history of demonstrating that the protection of children is the ultimate priority of the government. We have a very proud record in the past five years on this issue. We are the government that modernised outdated legislation. In 2004 we enacted the Children and Community Services Act, which put in place very strong legislative measures to ensure that better practices and policies are delivered for child protection. In the eight years that the previous government was in power, it did nothing to amend legislation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : The interjections from members on my left are clearly designed to prevent the minister from answering the question. I will not tolerate them. If I have to call every member on the left side of the chamber to order during question time, I will. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : The interjections from members on my left are clearly designed to prevent the minister from answering the question. I will not tolerate them. If I have to call every member on the left side of the chamber to order during question time, I will. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
The SPEAKER : The interjections from members on my left are clearly designed to prevent the minister from answering the question. I will not tolerate them. If I have to call every member on the left side of the chamber to order during question time, I will. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Let us look at the history of the issue when the Liberal Party was in power. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Alfred Cove to order. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : When the Leader of the Opposition was a responsible minister in the Court government, he did nothing about ensuring that children were protected. He swept it under the carpet. He did absolutely zero. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will now outline what the Labor government has done in five years. We have increased the budget of the Department for Community Development by more than 15 per cent and have increased staff levels by more than 30 per cent. We have modernised outdated legislation that the previous government did not bother to look at during its term in power; it was obsolete legislation. We have introduced new legislation to protect children. We have established the Child Death Review Committee. No such review committee was in place under the Liberal Party’s regime. In the 2006-07 budget the department will get the biggest budgetary allocation in its history of $140 million over the next four years. I am absolutely committed, as is this government, to ensuring that the protection of children remains the number one priority. (2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
(2) When I became minister, I made sure that the issue of mandatory reporting was very closely investigated because a range of views have been expressed on the issue. We have mandatory reporting in Western Australia. We have mandatory reporting with regard to the protocols of health services. We also have a statutory obligation to report child abuse. This government will make sure that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that child protection remains the number one priority, and we have the record to prove it. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Murray and Roe and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.