Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Child protection

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:09): (917) My question is to the Minister for Children. Minister, how many children in state care have been charged by police for machete-related incidents?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:10): I thank Ms Crozier for her question and note that in such an important week, while the Shadow Treasurer is still on his feet in fact – I assume he is as he was as we walked in here – we go back down the hole of this line of questioning, which really neglects to acknowledge that children in state care are in a home, and they are in a home because they cannot safely live usually with their parents or at times with others, and that when we are providing residential care for children in the child protection system it is a home. That is what we are providing.

In relation to the specifics of Ms Crozier’s question, I do not have an answer here to provide to Ms Crozier. Ms Crozier can ask me a number of questions that go to the welfare and the provision of secure, warm homes for children who cannot otherwise live safely somewhere else, but Ms Crozier continues to want to play politics with children in care, and it really is appalling.

Ann-Marie Hermans: On a point of order, President, the attack on my colleague is completely ill founded, on the basis that this is an incredibly important issue and we do have the right to question them on children that are in care in this state.

The PRESIDENT: That is not a point of order.

Lizzie Blandthorn: Further to the point of order, President, I would also note that Ms Crozier has now asked this question four times of me in the chamber. Every time we endeavour to provide an answer to Ms Crozier that speaks to my responsibilities in relation to children in care, the vulnerability of those children and the welfare of those children, Ms Crozier continues to want to take this down an inappropriate path.

The PRESIDENT: That is not a point of order other than if you are asking if the same question has been asked within the past six months.

Lizzie Blandthorn interjected.

The PRESIDENT: No.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:12): I suggest the minister go back and see what I have asked, but it is a very important issue around the children under your care. Surely Victorians have a right to understand what is actually happening under your watch. So I ask again: why are you failing not only these vulnerable children in state care but the thousands of innocent Victorians who are victims of crimes, some of which are left with lifelong implications following these crimes? Minister, why are you repeatedly refusing to answer the questions that Victorians deserve to understand?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:13): I am more than happy to talk to this chamber and to talk at large about the things that our government is doing to improve residential care. Ms Crozier asked about what is happening under our government in residential care in the child protection system, and the biggest single investment in out-of-home care has happened under the watch of this government. We are ensuring that every single place in residential care is a therapeutic place. That means services wrapped around vulnerable children to ensure that vulnerable children get the supports that they need when they cannot live safely at home. The fact that a child is in residential care or in any part of our out-of-home care system does not equal that that child is a criminal, as those opposite would like to characterise vulnerable children.

Members interjecting.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: No, those opposite are characterising vulnerable children as criminals. It is offensive to those children, and it is offensive to our community service partners who work with those children.