Child Protection Minister refuses to answer claims of growing list of unallocated at risk children in North West
Petrusma needs to confirm if up to 100 children have not been allocated case workers
Child Protection Minister Jacquie Petrusma has deviously skirted around revealing the number of children in the state’s North West who have been assessed as being at risk but remain on an unallocated list, without the support of case workers.
Shadow Minister for Child Safety Josh Willie said Mrs Petrusma was twice either unable to provide detail or refused to when she was asked today to confirm the number of unallocated children in the region.
“Serious questions have been asked of Mrs Petrusma, specifically to confirm or dismiss that the number of children who have not been allocated care after being assessed by her department as requiring support numbers almost 100,” Mr Willie said.
“Amazingly, when she was asked this question in the Parliament today, rather than have this information at her fingertips as she should, she needed to go away and seek advice.
“When she returned this afternoon, the Minister chose to talk only about Priority One cases and, despite repeated calls, is still hiding the total unallocated list for the North West.
“Mrs Petrusma is skirting the issue, she is avoiding the question.
“This is an important question that requires an accurate and honest answer from a Minister who has shown time and again that she is completely hands off in her important portfolio.”
Josh Willie MLC Shadow Minister for Child Safety
