Tuesday, 29 July 2025

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (13:37): (965) My question is to the Minister for Children. Minister, in 2022 the Ombudsman recommended that the government strengthen the working with children check system. Since then, horrific allegations of child sexual abuse in Victorian childcare centres have come to light. Why did the government fail to respond to this recommendation and fail to implement it?

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (13:37): I thank Ms Crozier for her question, although at the outset I would point out that it is misdirected. Under the supplement to the general order effective 23 May 2025 the Worker Screening Act is jointly and severally administered by the Attorney-General and the Minister for Government Services.

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, this is about the protection of children, and the minister is responsible for children. She has that portfolio. Given this is a very serious issue, is she saying that she has had no input into this serious thing, given the media commentary that she has made in recent days?

Lizzie Blandthorn: On Ms Crozier’s point of order, President, I would point out that the Department of Education is a client of the working with children check system in the same way that every other part of government that works with children is a client of the working with children check system. I would urge Ms Crozier and the opposition to direct their questions to the appropriate minister.

The PRESIDENT: I think we got to the point from both Ms Crozier and the minister debating the point of order. But as far as the substance of Ms Crozier’s point of order goes, as I have stated, members have every right to direct a question to any minister. The minister has the right to point out that that particular question should be directed to another minister. So I am not too sure –

David Davis: Further to the point of order, President, ministers are also required to answer questions about matters with which they are connected, including matters that they have commented on. So their own comments and their own matters of commentary are available for questioning. I would ask you to take that into account in this matter, because the minister has made comment about these matters.

The PRESIDENT: I think it is pretty clear that members can ask questions to ministers as to their responsibilities as far as their remit goes in the ministries they hold. Getting back to my response to Ms Crozier, that does not stop members from asking questions to that minister, but the minister has every right to point out that the question should be directed under the remit of a different minister. That is I think the point we are at now.

Georgie Crozier: On a further point of order, President, I note that a letter to the minister from the Premier reads:

Alongside your responsibilities as Coordinating Minister for the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, your principal portfolio responsibilities include:

…

•   Child protection

•   Child information sharing

•   Child safeguarding, including Child Safe Standards and Reportable Conduct Scheme

I do think there is an element of the minister having responsibility for this very important issue. I find it astounding that she is failing to answer this very important question based on her own portfolio responsibilities for children.

The PRESIDENT: That is more of a point of debate than a point of order. Given the minister’s answer, I cannot see how a supplementary can be asked of that minister.