Page 4159 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 21 September 2011
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spaces. I understand from the organisation that was looking after that property that it had a very therapeutic value for many children who had to be removed from their parents.
I think it is most unfortunate that there were some issues. Apparently, it is an older place. Many of us have lived in older places in Canberra. Certainly, I spent many years in group houses in older properties where the electrical circuits meant in winter if you had a few heaters on and then you put on the jug, the whole thing blew. I think that this may well be the issue with this particular property.
Certainly, I do think we need to ensure that we have properties that are of a high standard but I guess sometimes we do balance that a bit as long as there is safety. That is the primary thing here. But we might balance a bit of that also with some of the other values that a property can bring, particularly for traumatised children. In this case it was the wonderful open space that surrounded that property.
There is an element of “he said, she said” about the property, but certainly it is something that should be resolved. As I said, we need to ensure that we do have the appropriate accommodation and that it is up to standard. My concern at this stage is that again, this is a symptom of a system under extreme pressure. Whenever a system of any kind is under strain, mistakes can be made and contingency plans tend to be in the best interest of the system rather than necessarily in the best interests of the child or young person.
How do we maintain child safety within this system when decisions seem to be made on the run and without regard to the safety and wellbeing of the children and young people? While I understand that an inquiry has been ordered into this incident and the placement of all children in care—I keenly await the outcomes of that investigation—I also have grave concerns about how the Minister for Community Services is going to ensure that in future full and frank information is received about these types of issues within the area of out-of-home care.
I will touch again on some comments made by Mrs Dunne in these briefings. I know that my office came away feeling that there had been less than comprehensive answers given and that in fact, in checking up on information, it could be said that some of the information and answers given were probably not what you would say was 100 per cent accurate.
It is incredibly important in this area that people do get frank and fearless information and that they also get accurate information. That also includes a minister. Mrs Dunne talked about going back over the weekend to read through The territory as parent, the report of the Vardon inquiry. At that time I was out there in the community sector heading up the Youth Coalition of the ACT. I know that inquiry very well. I remember lobbying a previous minister for children and young people that we really did need an inquiry into the care and protection system because there were many problems and issues with it. At that time that was not taken up. I believe the 2003 bushfires then intervened and a lot of focus of the department at the time was in that area.
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