Andrew Bartlett (Queensland, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kemp. I remind the minister and the Senate that the Senate agreed to a resolution last Thursday, in Child Protection Week, that expressed support for child protection to be made a national priority and for all governments to urgently decide on ways to significantly reduce child abuse and neglect in Australia. Given the indication of support from government senators for child protection to be made a national priority, can the minister outline the specific actions the federal government has undertaken to ensure that the totally unacceptable levels of child abuse and neglect in Australia are reduced? Can the minister explain why the federal government has failed to act on the 2004 Senate Community Affairs References Committee report Forgotten Australians and the 2005 Senate Community Affairs References Committee report Protecting vulnerable children: a national challenge, which both recommended creating a national commissioner for children and young people?