Page 4520 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 18 October 2011
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Mr Hargreaves: Mr Speaker, he cannot put a caveat on a withdrawal.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Coe, I ask you to withdraw without qualification.
Mr Coe: I withdraw.
MRS DUNNE: A supplementary question.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mrs Dunne.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, what actions have you taken to ensure that your directorate fully complies with the law that it administers in future?
MS BURCH: I think it is self-evident that everybody in the Community Services Directorate is working under a microscope. Certainly my assurances from the department are that since the placement ceased—I think it was in early August, and the dates of nine or 11 come to mind, but just from memory I am not sure which date it was—all children are in approved and certified placements.
MR HARGREAVES: A supplementary question, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hargreaves.
MR HARGREAVES: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Minister, in the context of child protection and in the context of the Vardon report, what role have the child and family centres taken in terms of providing a service to these vulnerable kids?
MS BURCH: I thank Mr Hargreaves for his question. There was significant commentary in the time of the Vardon report and since around the benefit of early intervention and support to families who were not necessarily in the statutory system but who were certainly vulnerable—their family structures are that fragile—and that they would benefit certainly from some strong support.
That was the thinking behind the child and family centres and they have been a significant success. I understand members in this place have visited them. I understand one of the committee visited those. I am yet to hear anyone who does not go to those and say that they provide a fantastic service. They have non-government organisations coming through them.
We offer direct services from them—positive parenting, strong fathers programs—there is a whole range of programs. They are universal programs that go to support families at risk but also families that are not at risk just to make them stronger and healthier and to provide more competence around raising their children. I think it is the hallmark of a good government to invest in those programs.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Seselja.
MR SESELJA: Minister, did any of the breaches of the law identified by the Public Advocate occur after this issue was first brought to your attention?
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