Ms MOSS - 2014-11-27
You have seriously breached the trust placed in you to care for our most vulnerable Territorians: children in need of your care and protection. On your watch there are now more than 900 children under the care of your department, more than ever before. The 2013-14 Children’s Commissioner’s Annual Report shows reviews of 1160 cases in your department have not commenced or are overdue. Your government has not had the decency to formally respond to recommendations tabled in 2012 aimed at preventing and reducing youth suicides.
How can you continue to betray the trust of vulnerable Territorians by refusing to properly support a child protection system in crisis?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not know how it is criticism of this government to say we have taken more children into care than ever before. Unfortunately, Children and Families has to take children into care when their parents neglect, abuse or, in some instances, sexually abuse them.
I take issue with the media release put out by a member last week, where she referred to a child of 12 as a young woman in a sexual relationship. She is not a young woman; she is a child. That matter will be going to court, because we will be alleging the man having sex with that child was raping her. That is about protecting people, not suggesting this person is a young woman. What an outrage! When I read that media release the fury in my heart rose. To hear the member then say we are neglecting these children is a demonstrable …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. There are 1160 cases in the department.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. The minister is answering the question.
Mr ELFERINK: This is a demonstrable abandonment of where you have to lay the blame, member for Casuarina. You have to lay the blame with parents who neglect their children – parents you make excuses for. We do not back away …
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask that the minister direct his comments through the Chair.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Barkly.
Mr ELFERINK: The member for Casuarina would make excuses for parents who neglect their children. We do not step away from that. If anybody reads the reports to which she is referring, they will clearly see in those as well as the annual report that the number of notifications has gone up because police have been extremely active in this area. That has led to an increased number of investigations, but, fortunately, not necessarily a large increase in substantiations over time. To play politics with these children in the way …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The report shows a review of 1160 cases …
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: The problem is that the Leader of the Opposition does not understand these children are not a political football, because that is what she is trying to do. This is using these children to try to embarrass government. I am not embarrassed that we are taking strident steps.
Today, I am proud to introduce a bill for permanent protection orders for kids who will be placed with families which will continue to care for them and love them in the future. I will not be an apologist to local interest groups when the interests of children are, and always will be, paramount in my mind. I will not play politics, which is what is happening across the floor.
How can you continue to betray the trust of vulnerable Territorians by refusing to properly support a child protection system in crisis?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not know how it is criticism of this government to say we have taken more children into care than ever before. Unfortunately, Children and Families has to take children into care when their parents neglect, abuse or, in some instances, sexually abuse them.
I take issue with the media release put out by a member last week, where she referred to a child of 12 as a young woman in a sexual relationship. She is not a young woman; she is a child. That matter will be going to court, because we will be alleging the man having sex with that child was raping her. That is about protecting people, not suggesting this person is a young woman. What an outrage! When I read that media release the fury in my heart rose. To hear the member then say we are neglecting these children is a demonstrable …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. There are 1160 cases in the department.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. The minister is answering the question.
Mr ELFERINK: This is a demonstrable abandonment of where you have to lay the blame, member for Casuarina. You have to lay the blame with parents who neglect their children – parents you make excuses for. We do not back away …
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask that the minister direct his comments through the Chair.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Barkly.
Mr ELFERINK: The member for Casuarina would make excuses for parents who neglect their children. We do not step away from that. If anybody reads the reports to which she is referring, they will clearly see in those as well as the annual report that the number of notifications has gone up because police have been extremely active in this area. That has led to an increased number of investigations, but, fortunately, not necessarily a large increase in substantiations over time. To play politics with these children in the way …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The report shows a review of 1160 cases …
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: The problem is that the Leader of the Opposition does not understand these children are not a political football, because that is what she is trying to do. This is using these children to try to embarrass government. I am not embarrassed that we are taking strident steps.
Today, I am proud to introduce a bill for permanent protection orders for kids who will be placed with families which will continue to care for them and love them in the future. I will not be an apologist to local interest groups when the interests of children are, and always will be, paramount in my mind. I will not play politics, which is what is happening across the floor.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016