WORKING WITH CHILDREN
CHECKS
1219. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the Leader of the House representing
the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the event held in a bookstore
in Maylands earlier this month in which two Perth drag performers were to read
queer-themed books to children.
(1) Was the minister or any of her
staff aware of this event?
(2) Has the minister received any
complaints about this event?
(3) Does the
department's working with children screening unit receive and verify
applications by any person engaged in child-related work, as defined in section
6 of the act?
(4) Is the
minister aware that the hosts of this event were unaware whether a working with
children check was required?
(5) Has the minister or her staff
been in communication with the hosts of this event?
(6) If yes to (5), will the minister
table any documents relating to that communication?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. As an aside, I do not believe being a drag
performer is an illegal act.
Hon Nick Goiran interjected.
The PRESIDENT: Order! Hon
Nick Goiran, you asked a question. The minister has only just commenced
responding. Perhaps if you listen to what the answer is, we can see where we go.
Point of Order
Hon NICK
GOIRAN: I ask the minister to clarify whether she is reading the
answer that has been provided to her by the Minister for Child Protection or
whether she is indeed reading her own answer.
Hon SUE
ELLERY: I said at the outset, ''As an aside'', and
then I made my own comment.
The
PRESIDENT: There is no point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Hon SUE ELLERY: The answer is
as follows.
(1)–(6) As
the member is aware, many members of Parliament were copied into the email
about this event. The working with children screening unit contacted the hosts
of the event, who confirmed their understanding that this event did not meet
the scope of child-related work as defined in the Working with Children
(Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004. This event was open to the general public
and was not targeted or marketed specifically to children. Parents retain
responsibility to make decisions about whether these events are suitable for
their own children.