Page 5545 - Week 13 - Thursday, 17 November 2011
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The Barton Highway house was not a place of care; it was a place where care was provided …
You went on to say:
There is one, and that approval was provided in 2008.
You later said:
Marlow Cottage is our recognised place of care here.
Minister, given the number of vulnerable and at-risk children and young people in the care and protection system, it would be impossible for Marlow Cottage to accommodate them all, and Marlow Cottage is not suitable for children under 10. Why have you not approved any other place as a place of care?
MS BURCH: A place of care has a defined and unique place in accommodation and support services and care services for out of home care providers. Marlow is our place of care, but that does not say that there are other properties where care is provided. There is a standard about properties. There is a standard for out of home care providers. There is a standard for our providers.
Mrs Dunne, across the chamber, again is referring to the condition of the Barton Highway property. We accept that that was less than ideal but you do not need to be the echo. People are going on and on about this, Mrs Dunne.
MRS DUNNE: A supplementary question.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mrs Dunne.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, in light of the state of the Barton Highway house, leased to Barnardos, do you think that you should have sought to approve it as a place of care before sending vulnerable, at-risk children there for residential care? If no, why? If yes, when will you do so?
MS BURCH: Mrs Dunne, a place of care, as I have said, is a unique place. There are other properties where out-of-home care providers care for children. There are residential services in households across Canberra that provide care for children. We have an accommodation standard. Since we became aware of the condition of Barton Highway, certainly the directorate has reinforced and reinvigorated that conversation with out-of-home care providers to make sure that properties are maintained to a suitable level.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Seselja.
MR SESELJA: Minister, in light of the case of another house also leased to Barnardos at which the stove could only be turned on with the use of a knife, do you think you should have sought to approve it as a place of care? If no, why? If yes, when will you do so?
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