Ms ROSOL question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
Given the findings of the commission of inquiry, will you commit to not introducing any laws that violate the rights of children and young people?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Ms Rosol, I appreciate your passion and the deep commitment you have in this area, and I thank you for that. I understand there is a matter of public importance today. The rights of the child are paramount and will always be so, and we take the recommendations of the commission of inquiry very seriously.
We are committed to implementation. An example of that is the matter concerning the Pontville facility. Minister Jaensch outlined that investment on Monday and we look forward to that starting as soon as we possibly can, to ensure that people who attend that facility for various reasons leave that facility being very productive members of our community. That must always be the aim, and never giving up on anyone must be the aim. To your question, I am not sure if you have any specific examples of concern but the rights of the child are paramount in all circumstances.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Ms Rosol – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will take the supplementary question.
Ms ROSOL – I thank the Premier for his answer. Just to be clear, can the Premier confirm that he will commit to not introducing laws that violate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child?
The SPEAKER – That probably does arise from the answer that the Premier gave.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I will just point to my previous answer. The matters coming from the question are probably the matters that have been concerning Tasmanians, some more locally and other areas around Tasmania more recently. We do have to have a comprehensive policy when it comes to these areas. We have mentioned being tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime, and we need to be, to ensure the community is confident and feels safe. As difficult as it may be to engage in that side of the conversation for the Greens, we have to engage in that side of the conversation in terms of keeping people safe in their communities.
It is not good enough that people do not feel safe in going to do their shopping, for example.
Ms ROSOL – Point of order, standing order 45, relevance. I am asking specifically about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The SPEAKER – The Premier’s time for answering the question has expired.
