❓ A WA parliamentary question investigates the cost and justification of chartering jet planes to remote communities for Working with Children Card renewals, and the number of children in care in those communities. The answer clarifies the travel methods and costs, and provides data on card renewals and children in care.
AnsweredQoN 2615Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to page 12 of the Estimates and Financial Operations Annual Report hearing transcript on 10 December 2014, and I ask: (a) on what dates, and to which communities, were the three jet planes chartered to visit with the sole purpose of getting Working with Children Card renewals; (b) how many cards required renewal in each community; (c) how many cards were renewed in each community; (d) what was the total cost to charter each of the planes; (e) on what dates, preceding and succeeding the charter flights did child protection workers visit each community; (f) how many children were in the care of the CEO in each of the three communities at the time of the jet plane visits; and (g) how many children are currently in the care of the CEO in each of the three communities?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 March 2015
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection
Response time
29 days
a. The Department is unable to confirm the dates that visits were made to the East Goldfields District which includes the communities of: Warburton, Tjirrkarli, Tjuntjunjarra, Mt Margaret and Cosmo Newberry. Visits to these communities are made either by vehicle or shared chartered flights.
b. During 2013/14 WWC card renewals were required as followes:
· Warburton - 2 cards (2 separate carers)
· Tjirrkarli - 1 card (1 carer)
· Tjuntjunjarra - 1 card (1 carer)
· Mt Margaret - 1 card (1 carer)
· Cosmo Newberry - 2 cars (2 carers)
c. All of the above were renewed.
d. Costs can vary, however if the trip is made in a day from Kalgoorlie to Jameson and Warburton the average cost of a 3 seated charter flight is around $8,000.
e. Remote Child Protection Workers live and work in Warburton and Blackstone communities and are frequently visiting surrounding communities including the communities identified above. In 2013/14 one of the positions was vacant due to unforeseen circumstances so options noted in (a) were implemented.
f-g. During 2013/14 the following number of children were in care
o Warburton - 2
o Tjirrkarli - 1
o Tjuntjunjarra - 3
o Mt Margaret - 1
Cosmo Newberry - 3
b. During 2013/14 WWC card renewals were required as followes:
· Warburton - 2 cards (2 separate carers)
· Tjirrkarli - 1 card (1 carer)
· Tjuntjunjarra - 1 card (1 carer)
· Mt Margaret - 1 card (1 carer)
· Cosmo Newberry - 2 cars (2 carers)
c. All of the above were renewed.
d. Costs can vary, however if the trip is made in a day from Kalgoorlie to Jameson and Warburton the average cost of a 3 seated charter flight is around $8,000.
e. Remote Child Protection Workers live and work in Warburton and Blackstone communities and are frequently visiting surrounding communities including the communities identified above. In 2013/14 one of the positions was vacant due to unforeseen circumstances so options noted in (a) were implemented.
f-g. During 2013/14 the following number of children were in care
o Warburton - 2
o Tjirrkarli - 1
o Tjuntjunjarra - 3
o Mt Margaret - 1
Cosmo Newberry - 3
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