Page 4162 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 21 September 2011
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(3) requests the Public Advocate submit a copy of all reports to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly ensuring that any sensitive information as outlined in Section 19 of the Auditor General Act 1996 is omitted from the report; and
(4) if the Assembly is not sitting when the report of the Public Advocate is received, the Speaker or, in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, is authorised to give directions for its publishing and circulation.”.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Community Services, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Women and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs) (12.04): I thank Mrs Dunne for bringing this motion before us and Ms Hunter for the amendment.
On Monday, 12 September, I did write to the director-general of the Community Services Directorate seeking an independent review of circumstances surrounding the emergency residential placement of children with a particular service provider, the engagement and subsequent suspension of that provider and compliance with the Children and Young People Act in relation to these matters. I have also sought a review of all placement arrangements for children currently in the care of the director-general to determine whether those placements were compliant with the act. The review will be by the Public Advocate, Anita Phillips. I understand that it is underway and I look forward to her report.
The directorate is working with the Public Advocate to ensure that there are adequate resources made available to facilitate the review. A SOGC officer has been made available by the office, which has already commenced work with the Public Advocate this week. A care and protection service HP4 officer has also been made available to liaise with the Public Advocate throughout the inquiry. I do have confidence in the Public Advocate in reviewing the actions taken by the Community Services Directorate in relation to the placements. As I have stated in relation to this matter, the primary purpose of the act is the protection of children. The review may comment on whether the right actions were taken to ensure that the best interests of children and young people were upheld.
I sought assurances and asked questions of the directorate about the circumstances surrounding this particular matter when I became aware that ad hoc placements were being made in some emergency situations. I met with the service provider the week before last. I had a further meeting with the directorate. And just to clarify things, the records in my office show that I met with the provider within a week of receiving the request. I will double-check that, but that is certainly the advice to me from my office.
When I met with the service provider, I had a further meeting with the directorate and further questions were raised. For example, there was still some uncertainty in the directorate as to whether there had been a breach of the act or not. Both Mrs Dunne and Ms Hunter have made comment on that as well, based on the fact that an approved service provider had been engaged to supervise the work of another provider. I made comment yesterday that there was a strong oversight of this placement by a registered out-of-home care provider—the maintenance record of the house used by the service provider and the contractual arrangements with the provider.
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