Minister again fails test on child protection

Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma has once again demonstrated she is not across the Child Protection portfolio.

Twice during Question Time this morning the Minister was asked how many child protection workers were on active duty last week across the state. Twice Ms Petrusma failed to answer the question.

“The Minister didn’t go anywhere near the question and wouldn’t even give an undertaking to provide details to the house in the future,” Shadow Human Services Minister Rebecca White said.

“This is an unacceptable response from a Minister of the Crown.

“Either the Minister doesn’t know the answer, or she is too ashamed to admit that child protection is dramatically under-resourced as a result of Liberal budget cuts.

“We understand that last week there were 45 vacancies across the state as a consequence of vacancies and leave arrangements. This is unacceptable at a time when we know there are fewer investigations taking place which has the potential of placing children at greater risk.

“Understaffing is putting enormous stress on the sector and the Minister must commit to restoring staff numbers in line with the business rules agreed with the CPSU.

“Jacquie Petrusma has also delayed a scheduled Industrial Commission hearing set to deal with vacant positions.

“The Minister has known for a number of months that staff numbers in Child Protection on active duty have been below acceptable levels yet she did nothing about it until the matter was raised by the Opposition in Parliament. Recruitment for new child protection workers should have begun months ago.

“The Minister is not demonstrating a commitment to child protection, despite the rhetoric from the Liberal Party prior to taking government.”
Rebecca White MP Shadow Human Services Minister