Shadow Minister for Territory Families, Joshua Burgoyne, says it’s incredibly disappointing the Opposition and Independent MLAs only had 45 minutes to quiz the Minister for Territory Families on one of the most important portfolios – the care and protection of children.
“Minister Worden is now responsible for two of the biggest portfolios – Police, and Territory Families – both those agencies need detailed scrutiny and Territorians simply didn’t get that.
In the brief time we did have on Territory Families, Opposition questioning uncovered:
- The Department spends approximately $11,000 on each victim-offender conference; and
- Territory Families spent more than $120,000 on 11 victim-offender conferences in the nine months to 31st March, 2022.
We had more than 150 questions we didn’t get to ask the Minister around issues like:
- Child protection notifications;
- Out of home care;
- Youth crime rates; and
- Youth bail laws.
“Our remaining questions will be submitted via a formal parliamentary process which the government has 30 days to respond to. Territorians deserve answers,” said Mr Burgoyne.
ENDS