Newman Muriel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Newman Muriel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:613;Page:10018] 
4.  
Dr MURIEL NEWMAN (ACT) 
 to the  
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF) 
: Can she give an assurance that the 2760 cases of potential child abuse that required further investigation at the end of September were dealt with within the required time frame; if not for each category of criticality how many were not dealt with within the required time frame? 
Hon RUTH DYSON (Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF)) 
: 
 I am advised that the required time frames for response were not met for each of the four categories as follows: critical 2.9 percent relating to three cases; very urgent 3.4 percent relating to two; urgent 56.9 percent; and low urgent 49.5 percent—a total of 2630. These figures are all improvements on both the previous quarter and the previous year despite significant increases of 8 percent in notifications. 
Dr Muriel Newman 
: Does the Minister find it acceptable that 2630 cases of potential child abuse have not been investigated in the correct time frame by the department and what responsibility does she take for that failure? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: No “acceptable” is not a word I would use to describe my reaction to the unallocated cases. That is why in the financial year 2002-03 we invested an additional $12.184 million of new money; and in the financial year 2003-04 an additional $13.164 million of new money. In addition in 2002-03 the department reprioritised resulting in a saving of an additional $8.18 million specifically targeted to deal with the increased volumes of notifications. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That was a long answer. The second part of the question specifically asked the Minister what responsibility she accepted for that matter. She did not address that part. I accept that that might be her choice but is it a safe assumption that she accepts no responsibility? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is not a point of order and the member knows it. 
Georgina Beyer 
: What is the Government doing to ensure the department has the systems and resources so that it can meet the required time frames for dealing with notifications that require further action? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: In line with the baseline review recommendations the Government is investing up to an additional $127 million to ensure the department has robust systems and resources required to meet our expectations. Priorities for the department include employing additional social workers and developing strategies to better manage demand and workloads. 
Katherine Rich 
: Why is it that in September 57 percent of all urgent notifications of abuse or neglect were not dealt with within the prescribed time frame of 7 days and only half of all urgent notifications of abuse and neglect were dealt with within the prescribed time frame of 28 days? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: It was through a combination of insufficient staff and not-as-efficient work to manage demand as I would expect. 
Ron Mark 
: In the light of those failures was any payment made to the previous chief executive of the department who resigned her appointment in the wake of the review of the Department of Child Youth and Family Services; if so how much was the payment and why was it made? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: If the member is referring to any payment attached to the actual resignation and departure of the chief executive the answer is no. 
Sue Bradford 
: Can the Minister give an assurance that the department now has systems in place so that when a second notification is received about an existing case it will be dealt with urgently and taken seriously no matter at what level the original notification was assessed—even at a very low level? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: No I cannot give a categorical assurance that that will happen in every case. 
Judy Turner 
: In the light of yesterday’s revelations that the department’s social workers did not follow established procedures and practices in the Jetson/Aplin/Howse case is the Minister confident that an increase in social workers who admittedly are likely to be graduates with limited experience and knowledge of the department’s policies and procedures will be able to reduce the number of unallocated cases and those of lower criticality ratings which are not being addressed within the required time frame? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: Could I firstly correct the member. It was one social worker who had not complied with the policies and procedures of the department. Yes I am confident that the clear message that has been given both by me as Minister and by the acting chief executive about the need to comply with agreed policies and practices—that is it is a mandatory requirement—will be complied with by both existing and new social workers. 
Barbara Stewart 
: With the department having 2760 cases of potential child abuse requiring further investigation as at the end of September and that waiting list not having been reduced or cleared has consideration been given to creating a task force of suitably qualified professionals to work on the elimination of this backlog? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I think that the response from the department is far more practical. Rather than create a task force it is trying to attract the staff in order to deal with those calls. 
Judy Turner 
: Does the Minister agree that an immediate increase in the resourcing of the Social Workers in Schools programme so that a social worker is present at every decile 1 and decile 2 school would give children a voice while they wait for a department social worker to have the chance to attend the long waiting list of cases with low criticality ratings; if not why not? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I strongly support the retention and expansion of the Social Workers in Schools programme. That is not the only way we will be able to further support the addressing of the problem. However I certainly support the suggestion made by the member. 
Barbara Stewart 
: How does the Minister intend to forecast the level of resources required to address the level of child neglect and abuse in this country and is she confident that more funds will be sufficient to safeguard against any further systemic failures of the Department of Child Youth and Family Services? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: In answer to the latter question first it was very clear from the recommendations of the baseline review that putting more funding into the department on its own would not solve the problem. The resources need to be backed up by improvements in the management systems and infrastructure of the department and further funds were required as well. The Government has supported that total package for delivery. In terms of predicting future notifications frankly that is one of the biggest challenges we face. The increase I mentioned in answer to the primary question of 8 percent was not anticipated. I certainly hope our systems can improve our forecasting in the future. 
Dr Muriel Newman 
: Does the Minister accept any responsibility for the fact that 2630 cases have not been investigated by the department within the statutory time frame? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: That is an agreement I signed with the chief executive. It is her responsibility to ensure that the department delivers on that agreement. I accept totally the responsibility that goes with the privilege of having a ministerial portfolio. 
Dr Muriel Newman 
: I seek leave to table a news report from today that shows that an agency in Hamilton that deals with at-risk children has had its funding stopped by this Government this week. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is.