Working with children checks
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:27): My question again is to the Minister for Children. Minister, Treasury has floated introducing fees for working with children checks as part of Labor’s desperate and failing attempt to plug their budget black holes. Has the minister consulted with the Treasurer about the impact of charging parents, volunteers and community workers more for essential checks?
Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:28): The working with children check does not fall within my portfolio of responsibilities, and those opposite might like to check the general orders.
Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, I am well aware of whose responsibility this is, but this is in relation to your portfolio that you are responsible for – working with children checks for foster carers and the like who need working with children checks. Have you had that discussion with the Treasurer?
The PRESIDENT: Order! You are debating the point of order. The minister’s answer is that it is not within her responsibility, and that is her answer.
Members interjecting.
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:28): The minister has responsibility for those working with children. This is in relation to working with children checks that you actually have to ensure that your workers, foster carers and the like, are complying with. So I will ask: under Labor in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, child protection workers, parents and volunteers are already being hit with rising costs. Do the minister and her department support increasing working with children check fees when the child protection workforce is already under pressure?
Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:29): I would again remind those opposite that in line with the general orders the Worker Screening Act is not a responsibility that falls within my portfolio. There are many across our community that work with children, and the issues that you raise would be better directed elsewhere.
Georgie Crozier interjected.