❓ Mr. Whitely questions the resourcing of the Child Death Review Committee, citing concerns from the chair. Mr. Templeman defends the government's resourcing, highlighting the committee's establishment and current staffing levels, while also announcing a review of departmental resourcing.
AnsweredQoN 545Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD DEATH REVIEW COMMITTEE - RESOURCING
I refer to reports that the chair of the Child Death Review Committee is unhappy with the level of resourcing provided to her committee to do its important work. Can the minister please respond? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN
I refer to reports that the chair of the Child Death Review Committee is unhappy with the level of resourcing provided to her committee to do its important work. Can the minister please respond? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Bassendean for his question. As the Premier has already outlined, the letter from the chair of the Child Death Review Committee clearly highlights the resourcing that this government has given to that committee. Some very important facts about this issue need to be remembered. The Child Death Review Committee was formed by the previous minister as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Until that time - this is an important point forgotten by those opposite - there was no systematic independent scrutiny or review of child death cases in this state. It should be acknowledged and understood that before 2003, there was no formal committee that looked at child deaths. The Premier has already highlighted this point. We need to be mindful that the opposition has attempted to make a link between those children who have tragically died over the years and their connections with the Department for Community Development. Several members interjected. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Their connections with the department were varied, and it is very important that people understand that the tragic causes of these deaths are also varied. We hear a great deal of bickering and argument, but let us remember that we are talking about children’s lives. The fact is that many of those tragic deaths were preventable. The government is committed to making sure that it puts in place the best and most stringent processes as is humanly possible to ensure that these sorts of deaths cannot occur. Dr Denzil McCotter, chair of the Child Death Review Committee, has clearly acknowledged that the committee has a staffing level that allows it to do the job it was set up to do. The committee comprises a panel of eminent members who have expertise across a wide area and it will look into the issues related to these child deaths. As the Premier highlighted, a process is in place and it is recognised why those specific cases have been referred to the Child Death Review Committee. I reject the claims that the committee is under-resourced. I will make sure that the review process that was announced today will look into the resourcing of all the elements of the department to ensure that we have in place in Western Australia the very best child protection system that we possibly can have.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the member for Bassendean for his question. As the Premier has already outlined, the letter from the chair of the Child Death Review Committee clearly highlights the resourcing that this government has given to that committee. Some very important facts about this issue need to be remembered. The Child Death Review Committee was formed by the previous minister as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Until that time - this is an important point forgotten by those opposite - there was no systematic independent scrutiny or review of child death cases in this state. It should be acknowledged and understood that before 2003, there was no formal committee that looked at child deaths. The Premier has already highlighted this point. We need to be mindful that the opposition has attempted to make a link between those children who have tragically died over the years and their connections with the Department for Community Development. Several members interjected. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Their connections with the department were varied, and it is very important that people understand that the tragic causes of these deaths are also varied. We hear a great deal of bickering and argument, but let us remember that we are talking about children’s lives. The fact is that many of those tragic deaths were preventable. The government is committed to making sure that it puts in place the best and most stringent processes as is humanly possible to ensure that these sorts of deaths cannot occur. Dr Denzil McCotter, chair of the Child Death Review Committee, has clearly acknowledged that the committee has a staffing level that allows it to do the job it was set up to do. The committee comprises a panel of eminent members who have expertise across a wide area and it will look into the issues related to these child deaths. As the Premier highlighted, a process is in place and it is recognised why those specific cases have been referred to the Child Death Review Committee. I reject the claims that the committee is under-resourced. I will make sure that the review process that was announced today will look into the resourcing of all the elements of the department to ensure that we have in place in Western Australia the very best child protection system that we possibly can have.
I thank the member for Bassendean for his question. As the Premier has already outlined, the letter from the chair of the Child Death Review Committee clearly highlights the resourcing that this government has given to that committee. Some very important facts about this issue need to be remembered. The Child Death Review Committee was formed by the previous minister as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Until that time - this is an important point forgotten by those opposite - there was no systematic independent scrutiny or review of child death cases in this state. It should be acknowledged and understood that before 2003, there was no formal committee that looked at child deaths. The Premier has already highlighted this point. We need to be mindful that the opposition has attempted to make a link between those children who have tragically died over the years and their connections with the Department for Community Development. Several members interjected. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Their connections with the department were varied, and it is very important that people understand that the tragic causes of these deaths are also varied. We hear a great deal of bickering and argument, but let us remember that we are talking about children’s lives. The fact is that many of those tragic deaths were preventable. The government is committed to making sure that it puts in place the best and most stringent processes as is humanly possible to ensure that these sorts of deaths cannot occur. Dr Denzil McCotter, chair of the Child Death Review Committee, has clearly acknowledged that the committee has a staffing level that allows it to do the job it was set up to do. The committee comprises a panel of eminent members who have expertise across a wide area and it will look into the issues related to these child deaths. As the Premier highlighted, a process is in place and it is recognised why those specific cases have been referred to the Child Death Review Committee. I reject the claims that the committee is under-resourced. I will make sure that the review process that was announced today will look into the resourcing of all the elements of the department to ensure that we have in place in Western Australia the very best child protection system that we possibly can have.
Several members interjected. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Their connections with the department were varied, and it is very important that people understand that the tragic causes of these deaths are also varied. We hear a great deal of bickering and argument, but let us remember that we are talking about children’s lives. The fact is that many of those tragic deaths were preventable. The government is committed to making sure that it puts in place the best and most stringent processes as is humanly possible to ensure that these sorts of deaths cannot occur. Dr Denzil McCotter, chair of the Child Death Review Committee, has clearly acknowledged that the committee has a staffing level that allows it to do the job it was set up to do. The committee comprises a panel of eminent members who have expertise across a wide area and it will look into the issues related to these child deaths. As the Premier highlighted, a process is in place and it is recognised why those specific cases have been referred to the Child Death Review Committee. I reject the claims that the committee is under-resourced. I will make sure that the review process that was announced today will look into the resourcing of all the elements of the department to ensure that we have in place in Western Australia the very best child protection system that we possibly can have.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Their connections with the department were varied, and it is very important that people understand that the tragic causes of these deaths are also varied. We hear a great deal of bickering and argument, but let us remember that we are talking about children’s lives. The fact is that many of those tragic deaths were preventable. The government is committed to making sure that it puts in place the best and most stringent processes as is humanly possible to ensure that these sorts of deaths cannot occur. Dr Denzil McCotter, chair of the Child Death Review Committee, has clearly acknowledged that the committee has a staffing level that allows it to do the job it was set up to do. The committee comprises a panel of eminent members who have expertise across a wide area and it will look into the issues related to these child deaths. As the Premier highlighted, a process is in place and it is recognised why those specific cases have been referred to the Child Death Review Committee. I reject the claims that the committee is under-resourced. I will make sure that the review process that was announced today will look into the resourcing of all the elements of the department to ensure that we have in place in Western Australia the very best child protection system that we possibly can have.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the member for Bassendean for his question. As the Premier has already outlined, the letter from the chair of the Child Death Review Committee clearly highlights the resourcing that this government has given to that committee. Some very important facts about this issue need to be remembered. The Child Death Review Committee was formed by the previous minister as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Until that time - this is an important point forgotten by those opposite - there was no systematic independent scrutiny or review of child death cases in this state. It should be acknowledged and understood that before 2003, there was no formal committee that looked at child deaths. The Premier has already highlighted this point. We need to be mindful that the opposition has attempted to make a link between those children who have tragically died over the years and their connections with the Department for Community Development. Several members interjected. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Their connections with the department were varied, and it is very important that people understand that the tragic causes of these deaths are also varied. We hear a great deal of bickering and argument, but let us remember that we are talking about children’s lives. The fact is that many of those tragic deaths were preventable. The government is committed to making sure that it puts in place the best and most stringent processes as is humanly possible to ensure that these sorts of deaths cannot occur. Dr Denzil McCotter, chair of the Child Death Review Committee, has clearly acknowledged that the committee has a staffing level that allows it to do the job it was set up to do. The committee comprises a panel of eminent members who have expertise across a wide area and it will look into the issues related to these child deaths. As the Premier highlighted, a process is in place and it is recognised why those specific cases have been referred to the Child Death Review Committee. I reject the claims that the committee is under-resourced. I will make sure that the review process that was announced today will look into the resourcing of all the elements of the department to ensure that we have in place in Western Australia the very best child protection system that we possibly can have.
I thank the member for Bassendean for his question. As the Premier has already outlined, the letter from the chair of the Child Death Review Committee clearly highlights the resourcing that this government has given to that committee. Some very important facts about this issue need to be remembered. The Child Death Review Committee was formed by the previous minister as a result of the Gordon inquiry. Until that time - this is an important point forgotten by those opposite - there was no systematic independent scrutiny or review of child death cases in this state. It should be acknowledged and understood that before 2003, there was no formal committee that looked at child deaths. The Premier has already highlighted this point. We need to be mindful that the opposition has attempted to make a link between those children who have tragically died over the years and their connections with the Department for Community Development. Several members interjected. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Their connections with the department were varied, and it is very important that people understand that the tragic causes of these deaths are also varied. We hear a great deal of bickering and argument, but let us remember that we are talking about children’s lives. The fact is that many of those tragic deaths were preventable. The government is committed to making sure that it puts in place the best and most stringent processes as is humanly possible to ensure that these sorts of deaths cannot occur. Dr Denzil McCotter, chair of the Child Death Review Committee, has clearly acknowledged that the committee has a staffing level that allows it to do the job it was set up to do. The committee comprises a panel of eminent members who have expertise across a wide area and it will look into the issues related to these child deaths. As the Premier highlighted, a process is in place and it is recognised why those specific cases have been referred to the Child Death Review Committee. I reject the claims that the committee is under-resourced. I will make sure that the review process that was announced today will look into the resourcing of all the elements of the department to ensure that we have in place in Western Australia the very best child protection system that we possibly can have.
Several members interjected. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Their connections with the department were varied, and it is very important that people understand that the tragic causes of these deaths are also varied. We hear a great deal of bickering and argument, but let us remember that we are talking about children’s lives. The fact is that many of those tragic deaths were preventable. The government is committed to making sure that it puts in place the best and most stringent processes as is humanly possible to ensure that these sorts of deaths cannot occur. Dr Denzil McCotter, chair of the Child Death Review Committee, has clearly acknowledged that the committee has a staffing level that allows it to do the job it was set up to do. The committee comprises a panel of eminent members who have expertise across a wide area and it will look into the issues related to these child deaths. As the Premier highlighted, a process is in place and it is recognised why those specific cases have been referred to the Child Death Review Committee. I reject the claims that the committee is under-resourced. I will make sure that the review process that was announced today will look into the resourcing of all the elements of the department to ensure that we have in place in Western Australia the very best child protection system that we possibly can have.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Their connections with the department were varied, and it is very important that people understand that the tragic causes of these deaths are also varied. We hear a great deal of bickering and argument, but let us remember that we are talking about children’s lives. The fact is that many of those tragic deaths were preventable. The government is committed to making sure that it puts in place the best and most stringent processes as is humanly possible to ensure that these sorts of deaths cannot occur. Dr Denzil McCotter, chair of the Child Death Review Committee, has clearly acknowledged that the committee has a staffing level that allows it to do the job it was set up to do. The committee comprises a panel of eminent members who have expertise across a wide area and it will look into the issues related to these child deaths. As the Premier highlighted, a process is in place and it is recognised why those specific cases have been referred to the Child Death Review Committee. I reject the claims that the committee is under-resourced. I will make sure that the review process that was announced today will look into the resourcing of all the elements of the department to ensure that we have in place in Western Australia the very best child protection system that we possibly can have.
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