Ms CARTER - 2004-06-17
Madam Speaker, at last, another question! Last year in September, Mr Charlie King, a member of the Top End Child Protection team, told the media that there were 197 cases of children under 14 with sexually transmitted diseases during the 2002-03 year. He called for an independent inquiry into child protection and child abuse. Since then, we have heard and seen, time and time again, numerous stories in the paper with regards to child abuse and child protection problems in the Territory. This has been going on for months. Now your staff are voting with their feet with regards to confidence. Will you agree to establish an independent, external inquiry into child abuse and child protection in the Northern Territory and, if not, why not?
Madam SPEAKER: I did think we had that question before; however, Minister for Family and Community Services.
ANSWER
I thank the member for her question, Madam Speaker. The member stands up and talks about a system that was ready to collapse when we came to government. The previous government left the care and protection …
Ms Carter: It went on strike!
Members interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Well, she asked the question, and she went on about this question, so I am going to give the answer, and I will take my time. The previous government left the care and protection of our children to chance …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Members of the Opposition, let the minister speak.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: There was no vision and no insight into the need for building stronger and healthier communities. Our government will ensure the building of a child protection system, and that is what we are doing.
In relation to Charlie King, who has come out in the media - he has not come out in the media lately, or for some time - we have had dialogue between myself and the Child Protection Review Team …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Perhaps members on both sides could allow the minister time to answer the question.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I think too many of them went for a walk through the Mall at lunch time and had one too many …
Members interjecting.
Mr Burke interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Why don’t you just sit down – when you were in government, what did you do?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Brennan, order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: What did you do as the minister for Health? You have the cheek to stand up here – you did nothing!
Mr Burke interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: You did nothing. You have the cheek to sit there and open your mouth, when you, as the minister for Health, and the former minister for Health, did nothing.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister! If you could direct your answer through me.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I am sorry, Madam Speaker. The child protection area should not be brought into here and made a political issue. It is not a political issue.
Members interjecting.
Ms Carter: Oh, it is none of our business, is it? What were the strike issues?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Port Darwin!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: We have put in the extra resources and extra funds. We have put on extra staff to deal with this issue. It does not need an independent inquiry. There are a number of restructuring issues that are happening within the department. We have a community welfare reform and a review is happening within that child protection area. There is no need for an independent inquiry.
Madam SPEAKER: I did think we had that question before; however, Minister for Family and Community Services.
ANSWER
I thank the member for her question, Madam Speaker. The member stands up and talks about a system that was ready to collapse when we came to government. The previous government left the care and protection …
Ms Carter: It went on strike!
Members interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Well, she asked the question, and she went on about this question, so I am going to give the answer, and I will take my time. The previous government left the care and protection of our children to chance …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Members of the Opposition, let the minister speak.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: There was no vision and no insight into the need for building stronger and healthier communities. Our government will ensure the building of a child protection system, and that is what we are doing.
In relation to Charlie King, who has come out in the media - he has not come out in the media lately, or for some time - we have had dialogue between myself and the Child Protection Review Team …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Perhaps members on both sides could allow the minister time to answer the question.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I think too many of them went for a walk through the Mall at lunch time and had one too many …
Members interjecting.
Mr Burke interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Why don’t you just sit down – when you were in government, what did you do?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Brennan, order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: What did you do as the minister for Health? You have the cheek to stand up here – you did nothing!
Mr Burke interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: You did nothing. You have the cheek to sit there and open your mouth, when you, as the minister for Health, and the former minister for Health, did nothing.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister! If you could direct your answer through me.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I am sorry, Madam Speaker. The child protection area should not be brought into here and made a political issue. It is not a political issue.
Members interjecting.
Ms Carter: Oh, it is none of our business, is it? What were the strike issues?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Port Darwin!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: We have put in the extra resources and extra funds. We have put on extra staff to deal with this issue. It does not need an independent inquiry. There are a number of restructuring issues that are happening within the department. We have a community welfare reform and a review is happening within that child protection area. There is no need for an independent inquiry.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016