Child and Young Person's Visitor

The Hon. S.L. GAME (14:46): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development representing the Minister for Child Protection on the matter of the state's Child and Young Person's Visitor.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.L. GAME: There are 634 children currently in residential care across over 200 sites statewide. There is an over-representation of Indigenous children and there is a high risk of abuse, including sexual abuse. The Malinauskas government recently announced some funding for the role of the Child and Young Person's Visitor at $450,000 per annum for four years.

I understand that this is not enough to adequately visit each of those centres once per year, let alone the recommended minimum of four visitations per year needed to establish a relationship with these young people. These are extremely vulnerable children who often do not feel safe and have not learned how to trust. Will the government consider increasing this totally inadequate funding?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:47): I thank the honourable member for her question on a very important topic. I will refer that question to the relevant minister in the other place and arrange for an answer to be brought back to the chamber.