weekly hansard - Queensland Parliament - Queensland Government

2550 Scrutiny of Legislation Committee 23 Aug 2005
The Department of Child Safety had specified areas and course details that it wanted included in
university courses, and five Queensland universities were willing to oblige and embrace a new working
partnership with the department. Last week I met with the University of Queensland, the Queensland
University of Technology, Central Queensland University, Griffith University and James Cook
University—the five universities spearheading this very important work.
Curriculum changes in 2006 will combine key theoretical and practical learning on child safety
policy and practice and as a result Queensland’s next generation of graduates will be better prepared
than ever for front-line child protection work. This specialised stream of undergraduate courses in child
safety will further assist the department with its recruitment of well-trained and highly qualified child
safety officers. The improvements will also include the development of compulsory curricula related to
practice with Indigenous children, families and communities.
Earlier this year I announced Queensland’s first postgraduate courses in child protection, namely
a graduate certificate in human services at the University of Queensland and a postgraduate certificate
of child protection practice at James Cook University. Today I am pleased to announce that 70 people
have undertaken these courses at both UQ and JCU. This includes 58 child safety professionals from
government and non-government organisations who were awarded Department of Child Safety
scholarships. By working more closely with our tertiary institutions we are improving child protection
curriculum at the undergraduate and postgraduate level and we have a better chance of ensuring the
most vulnerable children in our community are protected.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Comments by Minister for Transport and Main Roads
Ms LEE LONG (Tablelands—ONP) (10.15 am): During the last sittings of parliament and in the
debate on the Industrial Relations Amendment Bill I spoke on 11 August clearly supporting the bill. I
stated—
I do not believe that the federal government should be trying to take the responsibilities away from the states.
In the contribution from the member for Lytton, the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, on 12
August he blatantly misrepresented me by saying—
The great states’ righters in One Nation—the great people who worried about our systems—are now prepared to cooperate with
the federal government taking over our industrial relations system.
This is a blatant lie and shows that this minister has little regard for the truth or for what is
recorded in Hansard in this House. I would hope that he would be man enough to apologise and—
Mr SPEAKER: Member for Tablelands, please withdraw the word ‘lie’.
Ms LEE LONG: I withdraw.
Mr SPEAKER: That is withdrawn. Thank you.
Ms LEE LONG: Misrepresentation.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
Annual Report
Mr LIVINGSTONE (Ipswich West—ALP) (10.16 am): I lay upon the table of the House the Public
Works Committee annual report 2004-05. I thank all those who have assisted the committee with its
inquiries during the year. I also thank my committee members for their assistance and support. I also
thank the committee staff for their assistance. I commend the report to the House.
SCRUTINY OF LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Report
Hon. KW HAYWARD (Kallangur—ALP)) (10.16 am): I lay upon the table of the House the
Scrutiny of Legislation Committee’s Alert Digest No. 9 of 2005.