Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Working with children checks

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:02): (1022) My question is to the Minister for Children. Minister, yesterday during the committee stage of the debate on the Worker Screening Amendment (Strengthening the Working with Children Check) Bill 2025 Minister Erdogan admitted that the bill will not close loopholes in the working with children check. So why has the government failed to fix these problems that were identified by the Ombudsman three years ago?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:02): I thank Ms Crozier, but again I would remind her that the working with children check and the worker screening bill to which she refers are a matter for the Attorney-General, as she has previously been informed, and indeed that is why the minister here representing the Attorney-General was answering those questions for you yesterday.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:03): Minister, when did the former Attorney-General first speak to you about the Ombudsman’s findings and recommendations?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:03): Again I thank Ms Crozier for her question. I have ongoing conversations with all of my colleagues, and they will well attest to my passion for representing children in this place and indeed in government. As I pointed out to the house yesterday in relation to the two matters in the Ombudsman’s report that went to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, they were indeed actioned by my department, as I have informed the media and this chamber a number of times over a number of weeks –

Georgie Crozier interjected.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: No, there were two recommendations within that report that related to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. The matters to which you refer, Ms Crozier, are a matter for the Attorney-General, and I suggest you direct your questions that way.

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, this is a very specific question. It is about when the former Attorney-General first spoke to the minister about the Ombudsman’s findings and recommendations, which are around child safety.

The PRESIDENT: I was hesitant about putting the supplementary question, because when a minister gets a question and says, ‘That’s a responsibility for another minister,’ I do not know where the supplementary can go. This is why I hate paraphrasing ministers’ responses, or for that matter members’ questions, in real time. I had a concern.

I did put it to the minister. This is me paraphrasing and probably getting in murky water, but I felt like the answer was when the report was delivered – the report we are talking about. I will ask the minister to continue.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: As I have informed the house, and indeed – your point, President – if we wanted to talk about when the report was provided to the Parliament, I was indeed the Minister for Planning and was located in the other place. But as I have indicated to this house, the working with children check is the responsibility of the portfolio of the Attorney-General, so I would suggest that if those opposite have questions for the Attorney-General they direct them to the appropriate place. But what I will say is that I am absolutely an advocate for vulnerable children, and indeed all children, every single day.

Members interjecting.

Sonja Terpstra: On a point of order, President, the constant interjections from Ms Crozier are unruly, and I would ask that you ask her to come to order.

The PRESIDENT: I will uphold the point of order.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:07): I move:

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

Motion agreed to.