CHILD PROTECTION —
CASEWORKERS — WORKLOAD
645. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Minister for Child Protection:
I have a supplementary question.
Does the minister support the opposition's commitment for a standalone
department of child protection with dedicated resources and leadership so that
the most vulnerable of children are properly protected?
Ms S. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for
Wanneroo!
Ms S.F.
McGURK replied:
I understand that child protection
workers in WA have been feeling some change fatigue within the machinery-of-government
changes, but I am firmly of the view that the Department of Communities,
comprising previously the Department of
Housing and Housing Authority work, as well as child protection, is greater
than the sum of its parts. It has the capacity and we are starting to
see some fantastic results. I know that the Minister for Housing outlined a good
example before the house this week. We are starting to see the housing agency—the
housing arm of the department—work with vulnerable families and match
up to ensure that for those families who are experiencing domestic violence,
who are at risk of homelessness and whose children are at risk of coming into
care, we are able to prioritise some of that work within the Department of
Communities. There are two policies that I have heard the opposition talk about
in this place for the next election, which is six months away. One is to
disaggregate the Department of Communities; the other is to build Roe 8. They
are both very poor policies.
R U OK? DAY — Statement by SpeakerStatement
THE
SPEAKER (Mr P.B. Watson) 2.19 pm:
I remind everyone that today is R U OK? Day. As members of Parliament and with
an election coming up and lots of pressure on us, keep an eye on your mates in
not only Parliament, but also your electorate and your families. Check on them
and make sure that they are all okay.