Minister for Women and for Human Services
FAMILY VIOLENCE REFORMS BILL 2016 (No. 72)
14^th March 2017

[6.41 p.m.]

Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to support the Family Violence Reforms Bill 2016. Eliminating family violence is very much a major priority of the Tasmanian Liberal Government. That is why we are taking action to improve laws which is reflected in this new legislation being debated today. The Family Violence Reforms Bill 2016 proposes amendments which will provide better protections for victims of family violence and hold perpetrators of family violence to account. Read More

Minister for Human Services
Tasmania’s Floods – Human Services Staff
14 June 2016 [7:57PM]

Mrs PETRUSMA (Franklin – Minister for Human Services) – Madam Speaker, I arise to speak in regard to our recent floods and storms. My heart, like I know everyone else’s heart in this Chamber, goes out to those who have lost loved ones. They have had their homes, animals and personal belongings destroyed as a result of the recent storms and resulting floods. I personally cannot imagine the tress and trauma felt by those families. Read More

Minister for Human Services
Budget Reply (Part 3)
01 June 2016

The next initiative is the system-based initiative which will determine the benefits provided from the use of an information communications and technology system to enable support coordination and client outcome monitoring.  This initiative will also examine methods for improving service planning, reporting, evaluation and research through data collection for analysis.  Read More

Minister for Human Services
Budget Reply (Part 2)
01 June 2016

 The Tasmanian Government is also committed to reducing youth homelessness and establishing safe and affordable homes for young people.  Reform initiatives to start in 2016-17 include youth head leases, the new Devonport supported youth accommodation with 25 independent units to be built, and Launceston supported youth accommodation with expansion of Thyne House.  This is in addition to the new supply initiatives already started or completed in 2015-16, including the Trinity Hill supported youth accommodation facility in North Hobart for 46 young people, including 16 units for people living with disability and the Youth at Risk Response Centre, which will provide a drop in centre as well as short-term supported accommodation for young people.  There is also Youth Castles, which is a pilot program designed to test micro-housing as an immediate short-term option for young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.  Read More

Minister for Human Services
Budget Reply (Part 1)
01 June 2016

Madam Speaker, I congratulate the Treasurer, Peter Gutwein, on delivering our Liberal Government’s third state Budget.  This Budget, like our first and second, gets the balance right.  It is because of our strong fiscal discipline that the Budget is now back in the black.  With the Budget now on track, we can invest the dividends of all that hard work back into protecting and supporting our most vulnerable Tasmanians, a major priority of this Tasmanian Liberal Government. Read More

Minister for Human Services
Human Services – Joined Up Project
26 May, 2016 [10:50AM]

QUESTION:

Could the minister please give an update to the House on the Joined Up Human Services project?

ANSWER:

Madam Speaker, this Government is committed to improving the outcomes for vulnerable Tasmanians, which is why we are committed to delivering a more joined up Human Services system in partnership with the community sector, as well as provide an investment of $1.2 million to progress this work.  The Joined Up Human Services policy articulates our long-term vision for delivering better outcomes for Tasmanians through integrated support that is easier to navigate, reduces frustration and duplication, and is focused on working with people to identify their own individual goals and to achieve results.  The Joined Up Human Services project is a four-stage approach to develop a service system that supports access to information and support and places clients with multiple and complex needs at the centre of a case-coordination service system. Read More

Minister For Human Services
Strong Families, Safe Kids Program
25 May 2016 [11.00 a.m.]

QUESTION

Can the minister please outline the additional support that will be provided to Child Protection staff under Strong Families, Safe Kids?

ANSWER

Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question and for his interest in the safety and wellbeing of Tasmania’s children and young people.  Based on the feedback from over 300 stakeholders who were involved in consultations and the recommendations in the final report entitled Redesign of Child Protection Services: Strong Families, Safe Kids, 31 more staff will be recruited over the next two years to support our hardworking child protection workers as the Hodgman Liberal Government rolls out a $20 million across-government investment to redesign the child protection system. Read More

Minster for Human Services
Child Protection Policy
16 March, 2016 [10.24 a.m.]

QUESTION:  Can the minister provide the House with an update on how the Child Protection redesign statement has been received in the community?

ANSWER:  Madam Speaker, the redesign of Tasmania’s child protection system, led by Professor Maria Harries, finally provides Tasmania with a framework to fundamentally improve the lives of vulnerable children, young people and their families. This report and the Government’s response addresses the issues that have plagued the child protection services in this state for far too long – decades. We are determined to rebuild this system and support and protect Tasmania’s vulnerable children and young people. The Commissioner for Children has welcomed the Government’s response stating that: Read More

Minister for Human Services
Ministerial Statement – Child Protection Redesign
15 March, 2016

Six months ago I stood before you and outlined that the child protection system was broken and was failing the State’s most vulnerable children, young people and their families.

I made the point that this Government believed a different approach to child protection was an imperative and that in order to better protect children, we must better support families. Read More

Minister for Human Services
International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
Thursday 15^th October

Mrs PETRUSMA (Franklin – Minister for Human Services) – Madam Speaker, today 15 October is International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, which acknowledges all those affected by pregnancy and infant loss. Sadly, there are over 40 stillbirths and 20 newborn deaths every year in Tasmania. One in four Tasmanian women will also experience a miscarriage; in fact, every 3.5 minutes a woman is miscarrying a baby in Australia. This means that there are a significant number of families in our community who at some point will have to deal with the pain of such a loss, yet it is something people are rarely willing to talk about.

From being a mum myself and from being a registered nurse I know how difficult it is to deal with the loss of a pregnancy or an infant, not only for the affected families but also for the medical staff who deal with grieving families as part of their professional role. It is important to recognise the courage displayed by everyone who is touched by these sad life events.

I particularly commend members of the Bears of Hope organisation which provides support and information services to affected families and today organised a special gathering on Infant Loss Remembrance Day. The support network that Bears of Hope has created offers care and comfort to families in their greatest time of need.

It was the Tasmanian arm of Bears of Hope that first made the Attorney-General and other members of parliament, like Ms Ogilvie and myself, aware of the number of families affected by pregnancy and infant loss, as well as the need for miscarriage, stillbirths, and new born deaths to be suitably commemorated as an important step in the grieving process.

I am delighted that the Attorney-General, Vanessa Goodwin MLC, has stated that from today parents who lose babies earlier than 20 weeks gestation can apply to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages for a commemorative certificate to recognise their loss. There is no cost to apply or receive this certificate. This will bring Tasmania into line with similar arrangements already operating in New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The Australian Capital Territory is also planning to offer an early pregnancy loss certificate in the near future.

We sincerely hope that these certificates may provide some comfort, assistance and healing to grieving parents and their families by acknowledging the loss of their baby and enabling them to take some comfort that their child was special and will not be forgotten on this special remembrance day.