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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-11-17 Daily Xml
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Question Time

APY Lands, Child Protection

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:32): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking questions of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation in relation to child protection on the APY lands.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Two weeks ago, on 29 October, I asked the minister questions in relation to the APY Lands Steering Committee, specifically concerning its responsibility since late 2013 to monitor the ongoing implementation of the 46 recommendations of the 2008 Mullighan inquiry into the sexual abuse of children on the APY lands.

In his response, the minister indicated that matters of child protection and responses to the Mullighan inquiry were the responsibility of the Minister for Education and Child Development and that he would refer my questions to her and bring back a reply.

Four days later, however, on 2 November, InDaily journalist Tom Richardson reported that a spokesperson for the Minister for Education and Child Development had informed that publication that 'the APY Lands Steering Committee was the responsibility of Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher'. My questions to the minister are:

1. Can the minister advise which minister of this government is responsible for the APY Lands Steering Committee?

2. Did the minister mislead the council on 29 October when he stated that ministerial oversight of the committee was the responsibility of the Minister for Education and Child Development?

3. If the minister did mislead the council, can he explain how he could be unaware of this important responsibility more than seven months after becoming the minister?

4. If the minister did not mislead the council, will he ask the Minister for Education and Child Development to immediately correct the public record?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:33): I thank the honourable member for his question. The APY Lands Steering Committee is co-chaired by the Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation department in the state government and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. I note that they are scheduled to meet next on 26 November. That steering committee covers a whole range of various issues. In relation to child protection, the responsibility for child protection in the APY lands and across the state is that of the child protection minister.

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