Ms CARTER - 2003-10-07
I refer to this front-page story from the Northern Territory News on the 29 September 2003: ‘Girl, 5, makes bong in class’. Today you said that the welfare of our children was the responsibility of everyone. Have you made any inquiries in relation to the matter involving the five-year-old girl and her knowledge of drug paraphernalia? If so, what did your inquiries reveal and what action have you taken? Did you also make any inquiries in relation to the two cases referred to in the page one article, of children between five and 12 being caught with drugs at school; in one case the drug being an amphetamine? If so, what did your inquiries reveal and what action have you taken?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not have a copy of the front page of the Northern Territory News and I do not have the details from that article. Perhaps the member could table that so that we could refer to it.
Ms Carter: I am happy to seek leave to table it.
Leave granted.
Mrs AAGAARD: In relation to the matters raised in that, I imagine, since it was something that happened through a school that, in fact, those matters would have been raised through the Department of Education. There are dealings through the Department of Education through to the Health Department and, when appropriate, those things will be raised with my department. I cannot give you individual details on this child; I do not know the article itself, because it is not appropriate for me to become involved in individual cases.
I have a lot of confidence in the people who are looking after this area in my department. Family and Children’s Services has had a very rough road over a long period of time. In the review of my department earlier this year, child protection was identified as a key priority for this government. We have continued to put money into this area. We will continue to see it as a priority, because children are absolutely a priority for the people of the Northern Territory and need to be cared for, not simply by those people who are working in Family and Children’s Services. Children and child protection is the responsibility of all of us, whether you are on this side of the House, that side of the House, working for a government department, or whether you are a cleaning lady working in the streets - it is a responsibility of the entire community.
The people at Family and Children’s Services have worked hard over a very long period of time, trying to make sure that our children are protected. To imply that, somehow, members of staff of my department are not working appropriately is a very sad reflection on the member. I have great confidence in the staff working in these areas, and the review of this area, which is being undertaken at the moment, together with the review of the Community Welfare Act, will mean significant changes in relation to the protection of children in the Northern Territory.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not have a copy of the front page of the Northern Territory News and I do not have the details from that article. Perhaps the member could table that so that we could refer to it.
Ms Carter: I am happy to seek leave to table it.
Leave granted.
Mrs AAGAARD: In relation to the matters raised in that, I imagine, since it was something that happened through a school that, in fact, those matters would have been raised through the Department of Education. There are dealings through the Department of Education through to the Health Department and, when appropriate, those things will be raised with my department. I cannot give you individual details on this child; I do not know the article itself, because it is not appropriate for me to become involved in individual cases.
I have a lot of confidence in the people who are looking after this area in my department. Family and Children’s Services has had a very rough road over a long period of time. In the review of my department earlier this year, child protection was identified as a key priority for this government. We have continued to put money into this area. We will continue to see it as a priority, because children are absolutely a priority for the people of the Northern Territory and need to be cared for, not simply by those people who are working in Family and Children’s Services. Children and child protection is the responsibility of all of us, whether you are on this side of the House, that side of the House, working for a government department, or whether you are a cleaning lady working in the streets - it is a responsibility of the entire community.
The people at Family and Children’s Services have worked hard over a very long period of time, trying to make sure that our children are protected. To imply that, somehow, members of staff of my department are not working appropriately is a very sad reflection on the member. I have great confidence in the staff working in these areas, and the review of this area, which is being undertaken at the moment, together with the review of the Community Welfare Act, will mean significant changes in relation to the protection of children in the Northern Territory.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016