Page 4684 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 31 October 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
occurred. I would have to check the record to see whether that is the case. But all of the information that you quoted in your question is correct.
MS LEE: Minister, how does Housing ACT respond to the presence of an aggressive or known dangerous dog at a Housing ACT property?
MS BERRY: Housing ACT tenants have the same legal requirements on pet ownership as any other person in the ACT. So any action that Housing ACT would take would be the same action as anybody would take for anybody in the ACT who had a dog that might be considered dangerous.
MR PARTON: Minister, who is principally responsible for maintaining a secure fence for dogs at a Housing ACT property?
MS BERRY: It is primarily the tenant’s responsibility. If Housing ACT becomes aware of it, then we can work with the tenant to repair the fence. But, as I am advised, Housing ACT was not made aware of the state of the fence on that particular property.
Public Advocate—abuse complaints
MRS KIKKERT: My question is to the Minister for Disability, Children and Youth. Minister, the Public Advocate has reported that she receives some allegations of abuse in care reports nine months after the allegations are received by CYPS, with four months being the average. In addition, the material in these reports is often so limited that she has to file information requests, further delaying any response. In her words, these delays “seriously compromise” her ability to monitor child protection and provide individual advocacy for children and young people. Minister, why is it taking several months for allegations of abuse in care reports to be handed over to the Public Advocate?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: Let me start by saying that it is every child and young person’s right to be safe and protected from all forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation. Any allegation of abuse against a child or young person in the care of the territory is taken very seriously.
The vast majority of kinship and foster carers provide children in out of home care with safe and loving homes. When allegations are raised, these are risk assessed and appropriate action is taken. The Public Advocate provides oversight of the outcomes of all abuse in care allegations that proceed to appraisal. This is a statutory power in the Children and Young People Act.
Child and youth protection services meets its legislative obligations to provide the necessary information to the Public Advocate. Child and youth protection services has commenced informing the Public Advocate of all matters for children in care that are proceeding to appraisal before the completion of the appraisal.
Child and youth protection services has also commenced providing the Public Advocate with the full appraisal outcome report at the completion of the child
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video