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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 960 asked in the Legislative Council on 17 September 2020 by Hon Robin Scott

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

CHILD PROTECTION FACILITY — KALGOORLIE

960. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Child Protection:

I refer to a child protection facility on Aslett Drive in Kalgoorlie, which houses neglected children. I was recently advised that the facility was set on fire, causing damage of around $400 000.

(1) Who is responsible for setting and enforcing the rules for these children?

(2) Is it true that the children may come and go from the facility as they please?

(3) Is the minister aware that children in the facility are breaking into cars at 3.00 am, threatening rape and murder of the staff employed to care for them, and engaging in solvent sniffing?

(4) If yes to (3), does the government concede this is another failure in a long line of failures by the Department of Communities?

Hon SUE ELLERY replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I might just make this point: children are in care for all sorts of reasons, not necessarily because of neglect.

(1)–(3) The Department of Communities is responsible for the protection of children in the care of the CEO, in accordance with the Children and Community Services Act 2004. Department of Communities staff do not have the legal authority to deprive a young person of their right to liberty in the community. If a child or young person in care leaves a residential group home, staff intervene to persuade the child or young person to return, and will report their absence in line with established protocols between the Department of Communities and the Western Australia Police Force. The minister is regularly briefed on child protection matters. Some children in care have experienced significant trauma, which can lead to complex behavioural features. Department of Communities child protection staff work with a child or young person to identify long-term trauma-informed strategies that assist in reducing their risk-taking behaviours. Criminal or threatening behaviour in the community, including when it involves a child or young person, should be reported immediately to the WA Police Force.

(4) No.