❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses allegations made by Andrew Forrest regarding child welfare incidents in Roebourne and Halls Creek, seeking information on reports, concerns raised by the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, and actions taken.
AnsweredQoN 654Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD WELFARE INCIDENTS — ROEBOURNE AND HALLS CREEK
With reference to the allegations raised by Mr Andrew Forrest in the Four Corners program “Iron and Dust” on 18 July 2011 that young girls had offered themselves to him for a cigarette and the allegations he also raised in an interview with Peter Thompson as part of the Yakety Yak series available online that Aboriginal girls in Halls Creek had likewise tried to proposition him at three o’clock in the morning, I ask — (1) Has Mr Forrest made any reports to the Department for Child Protection raising these concerns? (2) If the minister is not in a position to disclose the name of the notifier, can the minister confirm whether any reports have been made to the Department for Child Protection of incidents of this nature in Roebourne and/or Halls Creek? (3) Has the minister received a letter from the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation expressing its concerns about these allegations? (4) What action is being taken to address the allegations and concerns in the community about their lack of veracity? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
With reference to the allegations raised by Mr Andrew Forrest in the Four Corners program “Iron and Dust” on 18 July 2011 that young girls had offered themselves to him for a cigarette and the allegations he also raised in an interview with Peter Thompson as part of the Yakety Yak series available online that Aboriginal girls in Halls Creek had likewise tried to proposition him at three o’clock in the morning, I ask — (1) Has Mr Forrest made any reports to the Department for Child Protection raising these concerns? (2) If the minister is not in a position to disclose the name of the notifier, can the minister confirm whether any reports have been made to the Department for Child Protection of incidents of this nature in Roebourne and/or Halls Creek? (3) Has the minister received a letter from the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation expressing its concerns about these allegations? (4) What action is being taken to address the allegations and concerns in the community about their lack of veracity? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Mr Forrest has not contacted the Department for Child Protection. (2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
(1) Has Mr Forrest made any reports to the Department for Child Protection raising these concerns? (2) If the minister is not in a position to disclose the name of the notifier, can the minister confirm whether any reports have been made to the Department for Child Protection of incidents of this nature in Roebourne and/or Halls Creek? (3) Has the minister received a letter from the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation expressing its concerns about these allegations? (4) What action is being taken to address the allegations and concerns in the community about their lack of veracity? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Mr Forrest has not contacted the Department for Child Protection. (2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
(2) If the minister is not in a position to disclose the name of the notifier, can the minister confirm whether any reports have been made to the Department for Child Protection of incidents of this nature in Roebourne and/or Halls Creek? (3) Has the minister received a letter from the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation expressing its concerns about these allegations? (4) What action is being taken to address the allegations and concerns in the community about their lack of veracity? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Mr Forrest has not contacted the Department for Child Protection. (2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
(3) Has the minister received a letter from the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation expressing its concerns about these allegations? (4) What action is being taken to address the allegations and concerns in the community about their lack of veracity? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Mr Forrest has not contacted the Department for Child Protection. (2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
(4) What action is being taken to address the allegations and concerns in the community about their lack of veracity? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Mr Forrest has not contacted the Department for Child Protection. (2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Mr Forrest has not contacted the Department for Child Protection. (2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Mr Forrest has not contacted the Department for Child Protection. (2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
(1) Mr Forrest has not contacted the Department for Child Protection. (2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
(2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
(3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
(4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
(1) Has Mr Forrest made any reports to the Department for Child Protection raising these concerns? (2) If the minister is not in a position to disclose the name of the notifier, can the minister confirm whether any reports have been made to the Department for Child Protection of incidents of this nature in Roebourne and/or Halls Creek? (3) Has the minister received a letter from the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation expressing its concerns about these allegations? (4) What action is being taken to address the allegations and concerns in the community about their lack of veracity? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Mr Forrest has not contacted the Department for Child Protection. (2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
(2) If the minister is not in a position to disclose the name of the notifier, can the minister confirm whether any reports have been made to the Department for Child Protection of incidents of this nature in Roebourne and/or Halls Creek? (3) Has the minister received a letter from the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation expressing its concerns about these allegations? (4) What action is being taken to address the allegations and concerns in the community about their lack of veracity? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Mr Forrest has not contacted the Department for Child Protection. (2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
(3) Has the minister received a letter from the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation expressing its concerns about these allegations? (4) What action is being taken to address the allegations and concerns in the community about their lack of veracity? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Mr Forrest has not contacted the Department for Child Protection. (2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
(4) What action is being taken to address the allegations and concerns in the community about their lack of veracity? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Mr Forrest has not contacted the Department for Child Protection. (2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Mr Forrest has not contacted the Department for Child Protection. (2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Mr Forrest has not contacted the Department for Child Protection. (2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
(1) Mr Forrest has not contacted the Department for Child Protection. (2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
(2) One referral was recently made to the Western Australian police service and to the Department for Child Protection and a joint response was undertaken to assess the safety of the children. (3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
(3) Yes. (4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
(4) Between September 2009 and March 2011, the Department for Child Protection and the Western Australian police were involved in a joint partnership in Roebourne to investigate reports that young girls were offering sex to gain money for drugs. This investigation has led to 10 local men being charged with sexual offences against children. All the young people involved have been referred to the appropriate counselling services and their families have been contacted by the department and offered appropriate support services. I understand that since the conclusion of this operation there have been no reports of young girls approaching men late at night. The department continues to work with local agencies, including the police, in looking at proactive strategies to prevent young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviour late at night.
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