Thursday, 4 May 2023

Child protection

Matthew BACH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:20): (125) My question is for the minister for child protection. Last month Victoria’s independent children’s commissioner went public on the endemic sexual abuse of children in the minister’s care. She said the government is ‘not prioritising’ the protection of vulnerable children. She went further: children in the care of the minister are ‘suffering as a result’ of inaction; an ongoing failure to act by the government is leading to ‘serious, and possibly lifelong, harm’. When he was opposition leader, Mr Andrews said there is no greater betrayal of trust than the abuse of children in state care, and yet since Labor’s election record numbers of children have died in state care. Since Labor’s election, sexual abuse has become normalised in state care. Isn’t the independent children’s commissioner right? Isn’t she right that your failure to act is causing the most vulnerable children in our state serious and lifelong harm?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers, Minister for Child Protection and Family Services) (12:21): It is a rather extraordinary question. I had started to think that Dr Bach maybe had forgotten about me, but clearly not. Thank you for the question, Dr Bach –

Georgie Crozier: It’s a serious question.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: It is a very serious question, as is any question that is within this portfolio, Ms Crozier. As I said, I had worried that Dr Bach had forgotten about asking any questions in this portfolio, because he did have a good track record of interest but it had waned a little this week. But I am very pleased to receive the question, because protecting vulnerable children is indeed our gravest responsibility. There is indeed no greater betrayal of trust than the exploitation of a vulnerable person and particularly a vulnerable child.

Can I thank the commissioner for the work that she has done in this area. I have met with her and spoken with her about these issues, as I have with a number of other people, including the Minister for Police just last week. Children who are subject to child protection within Victoria are indeed some of the most vulnerable, and it is indeed our gravest responsibility to look after them. The fact that they are some of the most vulnerable children obviously also puts them at a degree of heightened risk of sexual exploitation and indeed exploitation generally, but especially, and as the commissioner has highlighted, sadly, sexual exploitation is a part of that.

We are indeed taking steps to protect these children, and I totally reject the insinuation that it has become normalised. It is indeed a revolting and really disappointing suggestion to put to the chamber that the sexualisation of children would in any way be normalised.

Matthew Bach: On a point of order, President, under our standing orders at 8.07 ministers’ responses must be factual. The commissioner found that 423 instances of sexual assault had occurred over a period of just about a year and a half. If the minister does not believe that 423 instances of sexual assault in a cohort of only 400 children is normal, then she should explain why, because she is in contradiction of the standing orders.

The PRESIDENT: Order! That is not a point of order, and the minister has been directly responding to the question.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: I again express my disappointment –

A member: A cheap tactic.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: It is a cheap tactic – thank you – in any way to suggest that the sexualisation of any child is indeed normal. It is actually disgusting that you would stand here, vile that you would stand here, and make such a suggestion. As I said, it is our gravest responsibility to protect these children, and the department are taking steps to protect these children. There has been the employment of 13 –

Members interjecting.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: Are you interested in the answer or not? Or just cheap shots?

There are a number of things. As I said, I have recently met with the commissioner about these issues. I have recently met with the Minister for Police about these issues. Within the department we have employed 13 sexual exploitation practice leaders, who work collaboratively with child protection practitioners right across our state, as well as with Victoria Police, to identify, monitor and respond to young people who are at risk of sexual exploitation. There is specific training for child protection staff to better identify and respond to child sexual exploitation, and there is also the implementation of multidisciplinary high-risk panels that meet monthly to support robust case planning, decision-making and other supports for children who are particularly vulnerable and at risk of exploitation. As I said, these are not normal situations – they are indeed very far from normal – and the department and I are doing everything – (Time expired)

Matthew BACH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:25): I note the minister’s response that there is much being done in residential care to seek to protect children. That is interesting because Ms Buchanan, the commissioner, has explicitly said ‘nothing’ has happened since 2020. In residential care nothing has occurred since 2020. Minister, when did you first learn that 25 young people under your care were sexually abused in the month of March, and what did you do?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers, Minister for Child Protection and Family Services) (12:26): As I said, both I and the department have met with the commissioner for children and young people to discuss the issues of sexual –

Matthew Bach interjected.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: Thank you, Dr Bach. Could you allow me the opportunity to answer the question. If you are genuinely interested in the answer, you may actually afford me the opportunity to answer it.

A member: You might learn something.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: That is right, you might actually learn something if you are prepared to allow me to answer your questions and not interrupt me. As I said, and as you indeed said yourself, the protection of the most vulnerable children in our community is the most important thing that we can do. I have discussed these matters with the commissioner. I have discussed these matters with the Minister for Police. I have just taken you through a number of strategies that the department is putting in place in order to try and combat this very far from normal – to counter your suggestion earlier – type of behaviour for those children who are the most vulnerable children in our community. There is absolutely no graver responsibility of any of us in this place than to protect those who are most vulnerable.