❓ A parliamentary question regarding the government's response to child abuse in Aboriginal communities, specifically questioning the lack of mandatory reporting and the extent of action taken. The Minister's response deflects the question, accusing the opposition of playing politics.
AnsweredQoN 395Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a statement by the Premier on the day the Gordon inquiry released its report on the incidence of child abuse in Aboriginal communities, that even more disturbing than these figures was the fact that they were only the tip of the iceberg. The report notes that the incidence of child abuse and family violence in Aboriginal communities is significantly under-reported. (1) As the Department of Health has revealed that 70 children under the age of 14 years, mostly from Aboriginal communities, had sexually transmitted diseases, and as the Premier has said that Aboriginal child abuse is under-reported, how can the minister defend the Government’s failure to provide mandatory reporting for all sexual abuse of children in Aboriginal communities? (2) Was the Premier correct when he said a “tragedy” was occurring in Aboriginal communities; and, if so, what action has the minister taken to find out the full extent of child sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question because this is an important issue. The Gallop Government, having set up the Gordon inquiry and having allowed for extra child protection workers in this year’s budget in response to that inquiry, is clearly on the record as taking child protection very seriously. It has acted. From the questions I have heard today, I can again see that members of the coalition in opposition are doing exactly what they did in government. When they were in government they swept the matter under the carpet and did nothing, and now they do not have the intestinal fortitude to treat this issue seriously. It is about time members opposite stopped playing politics with this serious issue. Those opposite are playing politics with the lives of young children in this State. It leaves a sick feeling in my stomach to see a Liberal-National Party Opposition that does not care about young children and one that simply wants to play politics with this matter. That is all those opposite want to do. If they were really serious about this issue, they would engage on the real and serious issues. The member’s question indicates that he does not understand what he is talking about. He commented that the Gordon inquiry had raised these issues, and then went on to talk about health statistics to do with sexually transmitted diseases in children. That sort of data - not exactly for the same year - was available to the Gordon inquiry, which formed its own opinion about the seriousness of the issue, but this Opposition is so uninterested in sexual abuse of children that it simply wants to play cheap, dirty politics. Those opposite should be ashamed of themselves.
(1) As the Department of Health has revealed that 70 children under the age of 14 years, mostly from Aboriginal communities, had sexually transmitted diseases, and as the Premier has said that Aboriginal child abuse is under-reported, how can the minister defend the Government’s failure to provide mandatory reporting for all sexual abuse of children in Aboriginal communities? (2) Was the Premier correct when he said a “tragedy” was occurring in Aboriginal communities; and, if so, what action has the minister taken to find out the full extent of child sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question because this is an important issue. The Gallop Government, having set up the Gordon inquiry and having allowed for extra child protection workers in this year’s budget in response to that inquiry, is clearly on the record as taking child protection very seriously. It has acted. From the questions I have heard today, I can again see that members of the coalition in opposition are doing exactly what they did in government. When they were in government they swept the matter under the carpet and did nothing, and now they do not have the intestinal fortitude to treat this issue seriously. It is about time members opposite stopped playing politics with this serious issue. Those opposite are playing politics with the lives of young children in this State. It leaves a sick feeling in my stomach to see a Liberal-National Party Opposition that does not care about young children and one that simply wants to play politics with this matter. That is all those opposite want to do. If they were really serious about this issue, they would engage on the real and serious issues. The member’s question indicates that he does not understand what he is talking about. He commented that the Gordon inquiry had raised these issues, and then went on to talk about health statistics to do with sexually transmitted diseases in children. That sort of data - not exactly for the same year - was available to the Gordon inquiry, which formed its own opinion about the seriousness of the issue, but this Opposition is so uninterested in sexual abuse of children that it simply wants to play cheap, dirty politics. Those opposite should be ashamed of themselves.
(2) Was the Premier correct when he said a “tragedy” was occurring in Aboriginal communities; and, if so, what action has the minister taken to find out the full extent of child sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question because this is an important issue. The Gallop Government, having set up the Gordon inquiry and having allowed for extra child protection workers in this year’s budget in response to that inquiry, is clearly on the record as taking child protection very seriously. It has acted. From the questions I have heard today, I can again see that members of the coalition in opposition are doing exactly what they did in government. When they were in government they swept the matter under the carpet and did nothing, and now they do not have the intestinal fortitude to treat this issue seriously. It is about time members opposite stopped playing politics with this serious issue. Those opposite are playing politics with the lives of young children in this State. It leaves a sick feeling in my stomach to see a Liberal-National Party Opposition that does not care about young children and one that simply wants to play politics with this matter. That is all those opposite want to do. If they were really serious about this issue, they would engage on the real and serious issues. The member’s question indicates that he does not understand what he is talking about. He commented that the Gordon inquiry had raised these issues, and then went on to talk about health statistics to do with sexually transmitted diseases in children. That sort of data - not exactly for the same year - was available to the Gordon inquiry, which formed its own opinion about the seriousness of the issue, but this Opposition is so uninterested in sexual abuse of children that it simply wants to play cheap, dirty politics. Those opposite should be ashamed of themselves.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question because this is an important issue. The Gallop Government, having set up the Gordon inquiry and having allowed for extra child protection workers in this year’s budget in response to that inquiry, is clearly on the record as taking child protection very seriously. It has acted. From the questions I have heard today, I can again see that members of the coalition in opposition are doing exactly what they did in government. When they were in government they swept the matter under the carpet and did nothing, and now they do not have the intestinal fortitude to treat this issue seriously. It is about time members opposite stopped playing politics with this serious issue. Those opposite are playing politics with the lives of young children in this State. It leaves a sick feeling in my stomach to see a Liberal-National Party Opposition that does not care about young children and one that simply wants to play politics with this matter. That is all those opposite want to do. If they were really serious about this issue, they would engage on the real and serious issues. The member’s question indicates that he does not understand what he is talking about. He commented that the Gordon inquiry had raised these issues, and then went on to talk about health statistics to do with sexually transmitted diseases in children. That sort of data - not exactly for the same year - was available to the Gordon inquiry, which formed its own opinion about the seriousness of the issue, but this Opposition is so uninterested in sexual abuse of children that it simply wants to play cheap, dirty politics. Those opposite should be ashamed of themselves.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question because this is an important issue. The Gallop Government, having set up the Gordon inquiry and having allowed for extra child protection workers in this year’s budget in response to that inquiry, is clearly on the record as taking child protection very seriously. It has acted. From the questions I have heard today, I can again see that members of the coalition in opposition are doing exactly what they did in government. When they were in government they swept the matter under the carpet and did nothing, and now they do not have the intestinal fortitude to treat this issue seriously. It is about time members opposite stopped playing politics with this serious issue. Those opposite are playing politics with the lives of young children in this State. It leaves a sick feeling in my stomach to see a Liberal-National Party Opposition that does not care about young children and one that simply wants to play politics with this matter. That is all those opposite want to do. If they were really serious about this issue, they would engage on the real and serious issues. The member’s question indicates that he does not understand what he is talking about. He commented that the Gordon inquiry had raised these issues, and then went on to talk about health statistics to do with sexually transmitted diseases in children. That sort of data - not exactly for the same year - was available to the Gordon inquiry, which formed its own opinion about the seriousness of the issue, but this Opposition is so uninterested in sexual abuse of children that it simply wants to play cheap, dirty politics. Those opposite should be ashamed of themselves.
(1) As the Department of Health has revealed that 70 children under the age of 14 years, mostly from Aboriginal communities, had sexually transmitted diseases, and as the Premier has said that Aboriginal child abuse is under-reported, how can the minister defend the Government’s failure to provide mandatory reporting for all sexual abuse of children in Aboriginal communities? (2) Was the Premier correct when he said a “tragedy” was occurring in Aboriginal communities; and, if so, what action has the minister taken to find out the full extent of child sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question because this is an important issue. The Gallop Government, having set up the Gordon inquiry and having allowed for extra child protection workers in this year’s budget in response to that inquiry, is clearly on the record as taking child protection very seriously. It has acted. From the questions I have heard today, I can again see that members of the coalition in opposition are doing exactly what they did in government. When they were in government they swept the matter under the carpet and did nothing, and now they do not have the intestinal fortitude to treat this issue seriously. It is about time members opposite stopped playing politics with this serious issue. Those opposite are playing politics with the lives of young children in this State. It leaves a sick feeling in my stomach to see a Liberal-National Party Opposition that does not care about young children and one that simply wants to play politics with this matter. That is all those opposite want to do. If they were really serious about this issue, they would engage on the real and serious issues. The member’s question indicates that he does not understand what he is talking about. He commented that the Gordon inquiry had raised these issues, and then went on to talk about health statistics to do with sexually transmitted diseases in children. That sort of data - not exactly for the same year - was available to the Gordon inquiry, which formed its own opinion about the seriousness of the issue, but this Opposition is so uninterested in sexual abuse of children that it simply wants to play cheap, dirty politics. Those opposite should be ashamed of themselves.
(2) Was the Premier correct when he said a “tragedy” was occurring in Aboriginal communities; and, if so, what action has the minister taken to find out the full extent of child sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question because this is an important issue. The Gallop Government, having set up the Gordon inquiry and having allowed for extra child protection workers in this year’s budget in response to that inquiry, is clearly on the record as taking child protection very seriously. It has acted. From the questions I have heard today, I can again see that members of the coalition in opposition are doing exactly what they did in government. When they were in government they swept the matter under the carpet and did nothing, and now they do not have the intestinal fortitude to treat this issue seriously. It is about time members opposite stopped playing politics with this serious issue. Those opposite are playing politics with the lives of young children in this State. It leaves a sick feeling in my stomach to see a Liberal-National Party Opposition that does not care about young children and one that simply wants to play politics with this matter. That is all those opposite want to do. If they were really serious about this issue, they would engage on the real and serious issues. The member’s question indicates that he does not understand what he is talking about. He commented that the Gordon inquiry had raised these issues, and then went on to talk about health statistics to do with sexually transmitted diseases in children. That sort of data - not exactly for the same year - was available to the Gordon inquiry, which formed its own opinion about the seriousness of the issue, but this Opposition is so uninterested in sexual abuse of children that it simply wants to play cheap, dirty politics. Those opposite should be ashamed of themselves.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question because this is an important issue. The Gallop Government, having set up the Gordon inquiry and having allowed for extra child protection workers in this year’s budget in response to that inquiry, is clearly on the record as taking child protection very seriously. It has acted. From the questions I have heard today, I can again see that members of the coalition in opposition are doing exactly what they did in government. When they were in government they swept the matter under the carpet and did nothing, and now they do not have the intestinal fortitude to treat this issue seriously. It is about time members opposite stopped playing politics with this serious issue. Those opposite are playing politics with the lives of young children in this State. It leaves a sick feeling in my stomach to see a Liberal-National Party Opposition that does not care about young children and one that simply wants to play politics with this matter. That is all those opposite want to do. If they were really serious about this issue, they would engage on the real and serious issues. The member’s question indicates that he does not understand what he is talking about. He commented that the Gordon inquiry had raised these issues, and then went on to talk about health statistics to do with sexually transmitted diseases in children. That sort of data - not exactly for the same year - was available to the Gordon inquiry, which formed its own opinion about the seriousness of the issue, but this Opposition is so uninterested in sexual abuse of children that it simply wants to play cheap, dirty politics. Those opposite should be ashamed of themselves.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question because this is an important issue. The Gallop Government, having set up the Gordon inquiry and having allowed for extra child protection workers in this year’s budget in response to that inquiry, is clearly on the record as taking child protection very seriously. It has acted. From the questions I have heard today, I can again see that members of the coalition in opposition are doing exactly what they did in government. When they were in government they swept the matter under the carpet and did nothing, and now they do not have the intestinal fortitude to treat this issue seriously. It is about time members opposite stopped playing politics with this serious issue. Those opposite are playing politics with the lives of young children in this State. It leaves a sick feeling in my stomach to see a Liberal-National Party Opposition that does not care about young children and one that simply wants to play politics with this matter. That is all those opposite want to do. If they were really serious about this issue, they would engage on the real and serious issues. The member’s question indicates that he does not understand what he is talking about. He commented that the Gordon inquiry had raised these issues, and then went on to talk about health statistics to do with sexually transmitted diseases in children. That sort of data - not exactly for the same year - was available to the Gordon inquiry, which formed its own opinion about the seriousness of the issue, but this Opposition is so uninterested in sexual abuse of children that it simply wants to play cheap, dirty politics. Those opposite should be ashamed of themselves.
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