Dunne Peter: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Dunne Peter: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:620;Page:15535] 
7.  
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
 to the  
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF) 
: Has the Government given any consideration to the CYFS policy that was announced by United Future on 1 April 2004? 
Hon RUTH DYSON (Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF)) 
: 
 I again congratulate United Future on its constructive policy regarding the Department of Child Youth and Family Services. It is consistent with many of the recommendations in the baseline review of the department undertaken last year. As the member knows those recommendations have been endorsed and are being implemented. The Government is currently considering a range of further initiatives particularly to enable Government and non-governmental agencies to work more closely together. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: Can the Minister elaborate on the last part of that answer namely the foreshadowed ability for Government and non-governmental agencies to work more closely together and just how she may see that emerging in practice? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: One of the issues that became obvious during the baseline review was that there could be a legislative barrier towards investigations of abuse of children being undertaken by non-governmental organisation - employed social workers. The Government is currently considering removing that legislative barrier. That was one of the proposals in the United Future policy. 
Moana Mackey 
: What has been the outcome of the baseline review of the Department of Child Youth and Family Services? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: As well as the investment of an additional $120 million in the Department of Child Youth and Family Services and the employment of around 150 extra social workers by the end of 2004-05 the baseline review has also led to the creation of family and community services within the Ministry of Social Development. That initiative is in line with United Future’s proposals to further involve families non-governmental organisations and communities in the care and protection of children and young people. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: Can the Minister indicate whether consideration is being given to the differential intake system that we proposed particularly as I believe that the head of her department was recently involved in Alberta where a similar scheme was implemented and may have much more direct experience of how it works? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: Consideration of a differential intake response has been part of the Government’s policy programme for some time and I am delighted that it has been endorsed by Paula Tyler the new chief executive on the basis of her own experience in Canada. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: Is the Minister able to give any indication to the House of both the process and the timing by which those new initiatives will be implemented? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: If the proposal for a differential response is supported by the Government then it is possible that that could be a legislative proposal on a Supplementary Order Paper to the current bill that is before a select committee.