Child protection
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:41): (995) My question is to the minister for child protection: under child protection laws in this state, is it correct that parents failing to provide basic medical care can trigger charges of neglect?
Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:42): I thank Ms Bath for her question. Child protection workers in accordance with child protection manuals would make an overall assessment of any risk to or symptoms of neglect or otherwise in a child. But the question, as you put it, is very difficult to answer because individual risk is individual and they would make decisions on the circumstances of any individual child.
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:42): For a child under child protection’s jurisdiction, it took the department five years to obtain a Medicare card, delaying recommended medical intervention by two years. During this time the child endured ongoing eating and speech disorders while waiting for the most basic form of identification to be arranged. Is the failure to obtain a Medicare card in this timeframe to allow for important and basic medical treatment not also a form of neglect, Minister?
The PRESIDENT: I think it is asking for an opinion, but I will let the minister answer as she sees fit.
Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:43): Again I would point out that Ms Bath seems to be speaking to an individual matter, and I cannot comment on individual matters. But it is also nigh on impossible to provide a systemic answer to individual circumstances without having been made aware of those circumstances by the member.
Melina Bath: On a point of order, President, the minister is aware of it; she has the document – it was sent to her last week. So, about relevance, this case is not hypothetical.
The PRESIDENT: I do not think that is a point of order.
Lizzie BLANDTHORN: As I have said, I cannot comment on individual circumstances, and I cannot provide a systemic answer without more context provided to me here in the chamber.