Mr MILLS - 2004-04-01
Yesterday, you had no answer for the young autistic lad who had suffered violent gang attacks and is seeking urgent relocation from his Territory Housing unit. Surely, today, the disturbing photographs and the report on the front page of the NT News prompted you to seek a briefing. This case, as we have all seen, very sadly represents the face of child abuse in our community. How many extra staff have been employed by Family and Community Services to respond to reports of children in immediate harm since your government admitted three months ago that it had a crisis in child protection?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will give an overall response to that question because, again, as I said yesterday, the Opposition Leader has asked a specific question about Family and Community Services. I have a Minister for Family and Community Services. If you are asking a specific question, then ask it of the minister, which is quite appropriate.
The story on the front page of the Northern Territory News this morning is a very disturbing one. Every member in this House would be very disturbed. Quite appropriately, the department is investigating, and has been investigating. The story is disturbing. No one in here would like to see a story like that proven. It is a shocking thing.
In terms of the additional resources for Family and Community Services, I was talking about that just this morning: over the next five years, nearly $54m additional into that area of the Health department. Quite properly, for the details of that answer, I will refer the question to the minister responsible, the Minister for Family and Community Services.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Family and Community Services): Madam Speaker, I will reaffirm what the Chief Minister said, that the story in the NT News is disturbing. Unfortunately, this is now a media story, but my number one priority is the protection and wellbeing of these kids: protection from drugs and alcohol, protection from abuse and neglect, and protection from exploitation. We are talking about a five year old here. These kids were exploited when these pictures were taken and exploited again when they were published.
I am not going to discuss individual cases or family circumstances in this forum or in the media. To do so would be inappropriate and definitely not in the best interests of these kids. However, I am able to reassure you that, in relation to this issue, appropriate action has been taken immediately.
Mr Elferink: How many more workers, was the question.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Are you going to listen to the answer? You keep mumbling on over there. Why don’t you just stop and listen?
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: This is a crucial issue. Why don’t you just listen?
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Macdonnell, allow the minister to answer the question.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: To do so would be inappropriate and definitely not in the best interests of these kids. However, I am able to reassure you that, in relation to this issue, appropriate action had been taken immediately by qualified and experienced expert staff in my department.
I urge all members of our community who become aware of instances such as this to discreetly contact Family and Community Services, and treat the welfare of these children involved as the most important priority, and this includes the media.
I know there is bipartisan support in this House for mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect. This mandatory reporting applies to all members of the community. In fact, the Northern Territory is the only jurisdiction where there are mandatory expectations for all community members to report child abuse and neglect. In the Northern Territory, child protection is everyone’s responsibility. It is not only the responsibility of Family and Community Services, but everybody has a responsibility. I again encourage community members with concerns about the safety of any child to call the toll free Child Protection Hotline.
Child abuse is tragic, and that is why the Martin Labor government committed an additional $53.8m over the next five years to building a better child protection system.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! My question was in specific reference to - the Martin Labor government made a very clear response to a declared crisis in child protection three months ago. I want to know how many additional staff have resulted from that response, since that time.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, there is no point of order, you know full well …
Mr MILLS: There was no answer to that question.
Madam SPEAKER: You know the rules about ministers answering questions. It has been a convention in this House for many decades.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will give an overall response to that question because, again, as I said yesterday, the Opposition Leader has asked a specific question about Family and Community Services. I have a Minister for Family and Community Services. If you are asking a specific question, then ask it of the minister, which is quite appropriate.
The story on the front page of the Northern Territory News this morning is a very disturbing one. Every member in this House would be very disturbed. Quite appropriately, the department is investigating, and has been investigating. The story is disturbing. No one in here would like to see a story like that proven. It is a shocking thing.
In terms of the additional resources for Family and Community Services, I was talking about that just this morning: over the next five years, nearly $54m additional into that area of the Health department. Quite properly, for the details of that answer, I will refer the question to the minister responsible, the Minister for Family and Community Services.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Family and Community Services): Madam Speaker, I will reaffirm what the Chief Minister said, that the story in the NT News is disturbing. Unfortunately, this is now a media story, but my number one priority is the protection and wellbeing of these kids: protection from drugs and alcohol, protection from abuse and neglect, and protection from exploitation. We are talking about a five year old here. These kids were exploited when these pictures were taken and exploited again when they were published.
I am not going to discuss individual cases or family circumstances in this forum or in the media. To do so would be inappropriate and definitely not in the best interests of these kids. However, I am able to reassure you that, in relation to this issue, appropriate action has been taken immediately.
Mr Elferink: How many more workers, was the question.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Are you going to listen to the answer? You keep mumbling on over there. Why don’t you just stop and listen?
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: This is a crucial issue. Why don’t you just listen?
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Macdonnell, allow the minister to answer the question.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: To do so would be inappropriate and definitely not in the best interests of these kids. However, I am able to reassure you that, in relation to this issue, appropriate action had been taken immediately by qualified and experienced expert staff in my department.
I urge all members of our community who become aware of instances such as this to discreetly contact Family and Community Services, and treat the welfare of these children involved as the most important priority, and this includes the media.
I know there is bipartisan support in this House for mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect. This mandatory reporting applies to all members of the community. In fact, the Northern Territory is the only jurisdiction where there are mandatory expectations for all community members to report child abuse and neglect. In the Northern Territory, child protection is everyone’s responsibility. It is not only the responsibility of Family and Community Services, but everybody has a responsibility. I again encourage community members with concerns about the safety of any child to call the toll free Child Protection Hotline.
Child abuse is tragic, and that is why the Martin Labor government committed an additional $53.8m over the next five years to building a better child protection system.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! My question was in specific reference to - the Martin Labor government made a very clear response to a declared crisis in child protection three months ago. I want to know how many additional staff have resulted from that response, since that time.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, there is no point of order, you know full well …
Mr MILLS: There was no answer to that question.
Madam SPEAKER: You know the rules about ministers answering questions. It has been a convention in this House for many decades.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016