Wednesday, 1 May 2024

Child protection

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:18): (504) My question is again to the Minister for Children. Minister, Victoria’s independent commissioner for young people recommended the reinstatement of a joint sexual exploitation program that was discontinued by the Labor state government. Under the program police, child protection and other agencies worked together to intervene and save high-risk children. We know that there have been far too many reports of sexual exploitation of children in residential care. So, Minister, has this program been reinstated and fully funded?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:18): It certainly is an odd line of questioning this afternoon, but perhaps we would all like to talk about last year’s state budget, and that is perfectly fine. Again, partly as a consequence of some of the conversations that I have been very pleased to have over time with the commissioner for children and young people, who is deeply committed both to her role and certainly to this issue, as well as with the police minister and with others, when the 2023–24 state budget was announced last year, we knew at that time that more work needed to be done in order to address the sexual exploitation of children in care.

I would say at the outset, as I feel I so often have to remind those opposite, that children who are involved in the child protection system are indeed some of the most vulnerable, and they come from very difficult and often traumatic circumstances, which also makes them at times, very sadly, a target for those who have less than good intentions and who seek to exploit children in care in a number of ways. But as a consequence, in part, of many of the conversations that we have had with the commissioner for children and young people, the state budget built on our previous actions and provided further funding for additional sexual exploitation practice leads, who are central in the department’s efforts to identify and prevent sexual exploitation. That has allowed us to ensure that that coverage is right across the state. Indeed I was very pleased earlier this year to meet with many of those who are involved in this work and to talk to them about the important work that they were about to undertake. The introduction of sexual exploitation practice leads in metropolitan, rural and after-hours services is really an attempt to identify where there may be issues, where there may be predators who may seek to sexually exploit children who are in our care, and ensure that there is that coverage of that work to try and prevent that at all hours and in all regions. As I said, I met with many of those who are undertaking these roles. The recruitment for those roles has been completed.

I want to thank those who are undertaking this really important work in our system, because all of our child protection workers, who are supported by both the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and of course also the union, work extremely hard in very difficult circumstances. The work that these particular workers do in relation to the prevention of sexual exploitation is a really critical part of that, but it is also one of the most difficult parts of that. But the investment that we made in last year’s budget does ensure that we have that work rolling out right across the state and that we have the additional capacity and capability to better enable detection and also the sharing of intelligence.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:22): Minister, thank you for that response. Minister, the commissioner for children and young people has stated publicly that the numbers of children being sexually abused in residential care are appalling. I quote the commissioner:

… what happens to those children when they’re away from care, and when they’re being victimised is shocking.

In February of this year there were 125 reports to the commissioner of children being subjected to sexual exploitation. You have just said that you are rolling out these things, so I ask: how many reports have been made since February to now about sexual exploitation of children under your watch?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:22): At the outset, I think it is important to correct the language that Ms Crozier used when she said that these children are being abused in care. We need to be really careful about this, because that was also something that was characterised in many of the media articles. These children –

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, I know the minister is trying to defend her inaction on this issue, which is appalling, but I am asking questions in question time. The minister keeps attacking me for asking these very critical questions, and I would ask you to ask her to come back and answer that very simple question. It is a very simple question. Stop attacking us. Just answer the question.

The PRESIDENT: I think the minister was being relevant to the question.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: I was being very relevant to the question because it is a really important point. Those opposite said children are being abused in care. The implication of what you are saying in saying that the children are being abused in residential care is that the workers who are looking after those children are abusing them. I can absolutely assure you –

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, the minister is verballing me. That is not what I said.

Members interjecting.

Georgie Crozier: No, it is not what I said. Stop verballing me. President, I am not going to take this. The minister is verballing me. These children are being abused in residential care. She is the minister, and I want the answers to my questions.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order! We have just turned points of order into a debate. I call the minister back to the question.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: Thank you, President, and I apologise for debating the question while you were on your feet. I find it very frustrating. I want to assure the house that the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, through the significant investment that we made in the last state budget, has employed right across the state workers whose job it is to ensure that we are tackling the sexual exploitation of children who are in vulnerable positions because they are also traumatised children who are in care. But I want to assure the house that we have confidence – (Time expired)

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:25): I move:

That the minister’s answer be taken into consideration on the next day of meeting.

Motion agreed to.