Page 1028 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
But what is very clear is that when I put the question to the directorate, the system does know where the children are. Either the director-general, as the territory parent, or the external agencies that are managing the foster care placements do know where the children are. Where the information was not correct would have been a telephone number that was not right. Perhaps a school was not right. Perhaps there was not a current address. It was one element of information. But with a phone call, we certainly knew, and the director-general knew, where the children were. But it does highlight—and I am quite happy to have the conversation—that we need to be forever vigilant in making sure that our information systems are up to date.
The Auditor-General also made comment about the consideration of having those external agencies having direct input of that information that they hold, and they held all correct information. It was just the transfer from those agencies into a file system within the directorate where that information was not current in all its forms. So that is something that the agency is looking at, that the directorate is looking at, to make sure that we have that contemporary information.
But I would give all members here an assurance that we do know where the children are. And it is important that we do.
MADAM ACTING SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, a supplementary.
MR SESELJA: Minister, have these problems been identified before the Auditor-General’s report? If yes, why was nothing done about it, and if not, why not?
MS BURCH: I think if you went through any data system, you would find some elements that would need updating. I have no doubt about that. But we have put significant effort into the care and protection system. Everyone in this place is aware of the Public Advocate’s report. That was a piece of work that I commissioned about 18 months ago. New members may not be aware that as part of our response to the Public Advocate’s report, which we commissioned and asked her to do, it was always agreed at that time that the Auditor-General would also come in and have a look at other elements of the system. And that is the report that was delivered just recently.
We have invested significantly in the care and protection system and have made significant improvements. Part of the response to the Public Advocate’s report was to establish a milestone review committee, which has the Public Advocate on it and the Children and Young People Official Visitor, plus an independent member of an audit committee. They produce three-monthly reports. The most recent report shows that the reforms are in place, they are gaining traction and they are heading in the right direction. Even the Auditor-General reflects that and says that once they are completed they will address the issues of concern.
MADAM ACTING SPEAKER: Supplementary, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, when will the director-general finally be able to provide accurate information about all the young people in your directorate?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video