Tuesday, 29 July 2025

Working with children checks

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (13:41): (966) My question is again to the Minister for Children. Minister, on 27 August 2024 in this place I asked the then Attorney-General about reports that 157,000 working with children check applicants did not have their status notified to nominated organisations due to a systems error, including 69 applicants who were banned from child-related work. At the time the Attorney did not respond appropriately to that important question, so I ask you: as Minister for Children what did you do to follow up on this serious bungle that was first identified in 2022?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (13:41): I would again note – and Ms Crozier in her question actually noted – that the working with children check system is the responsibility of the Attorney-General and the Minister for Government Services, as evidenced by the fact that in previously asking the question you correctly asked it of the Attorney-General.

Georgie Crozier interjected.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: I would again point out to those opposite that if they have questions in relation to the working with children check, then the appropriate person to ask those questions is the Attorney-General or the Minister for Government Services, depending on the nature of your question.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

Jaclyn Symes: On a point of order, President, we are more than happy to answer the questions. If they would like to direct the question to Minister Erdogan, he could take it on behalf of the Attorney-General and provide an answer. This is not about a minister trying to avoid a topic. I think she is quite ready to respond to questions, but it is a responsibility of the opposition to direct their questions to the correct minister. We are actually trying to help in that regard.

Sonja Terpstra: On the point of order, I am having trouble hearing what ministers are saying because of the stream of abuse, and also Ms Crozier needs to direct her comments through you, President, rather than hurling abuse at ministers. I cannot hear. There is a range of things that are going on. Those opposite need to understand that if they actually direct their questions to the right minister, it might help.

The PRESIDENT: I think it has been made pretty clear by previous presiding officers in this role, as far as rulings go – and it is in the standing orders – that the areas that ministers can be asked questions about are mainly in the responsibility which they hold. I thought about the question. I feel like a previous minister in a completely different portfolio was asked the question ‘And what did you do?’ I am wondering if that is within the remit of the minister as well. I am happy for you to put the question, and the minister can answer as she sees fit, which she did.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (13:45): I find this completely unacceptable. Nevertheless, Minister, in an answer provided to me on 3 October 2024 following the referral of the non-response from the then Attorney, the Minister for Government Services responded by saying:

… attempts were made to contact the 69 applicants who were not approved to work with children.

Minister, I ask: were any of those 69 applicants found to be working in early childhood centres?

The PRESIDENT: I have a concern.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis! I think we should respect that this is a very sensitive issue. It is a question around an answer from a minister that does not even hold this minister’s portfolio that was in a response that was given by a different minister, and this minister does not hold that portfolio as well.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: It is just a fact. But in view of the chamber working in a collegial way, I will let the minister respond as she sees fit.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (13:46): Again, as Ms Crozier has answered in her own question, 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, as evidenced by the fact – that is why she asked her questions in that direction in the first instance and got answered in the first instance. If she has subsequent questions, they should be directed at those ministers. That is where she should direct them.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (13:47): I move:

That the minister’s answers be taken into account on the next day of meeting.

Motion agreed to.