Greens spokesperson for Child Protection Hon Alison Xamon MLC has today called for the implementation of a child-friendly advocacy service where individual children can go with concerns about their care and for individual support.
Ms Xamon said there was currently no over-arching body which provided independent child advocacy services, a child-friendly complaints system or independent oversight to prevent child abuse in institutional settings.
Greens spokesperson for Industrial Relations and Women Hon Alison Xamon MLC will today re-introduce a Bill to Parliament designed to tackle the appalling 22% gender pay gap in Western Australia.
Ms Xamon said her Industrial Relations (Equal Remuneration) Amendment Bill 2018 would allow the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission to hear pay equity cases and to make enforceable equal remuneration orders to ensure employees are able to receive equal pay for work of equal value.
Greens spokesperson for Health Hon Alison Xamon MLC has called on the Government to ensure WA is included into national research into Lyme-like diseases and the state’s interests are properly represented.
Ms Xamon, who put forward a motion in Parliament this week on the issue, said significant numbers of Western Australians had for decades been reporting chronic debilitating symptoms attributed to tick bites.
She said people are currently being turned away without a diagnosis and the support they need.
Greens spokesperson for Corrective Services and Mental Health Hon Alison Xamon MLC has expressed her deep concern about the treatment of a distressed woman transported from Bandyup Women’s Prison to Graylands Hospital.
Ms Xamon said she intended to question the Government about the incident, following reports in the media that the woman “was transported naked and handcuffed” and “had menstrual bleeding” during the 40 minute journey between the prison and the Frankland Centre at Graylands Hospital in August 2017.
Greens spokesperson for Child Protection Hon Alison Xamon MLC has called on the Government to reveal whether care and protection applications to place Western Australian children in state care were historically recorded as criminal offences.
Ms Xamon raised the issue in Parliament this week, but was asked to place the Question on Notice, meaning a response will not be provided until May.
She said while she acknowledged this was a complex issue, it was important to find out as soon as possible whether Western Australian care leavers were affected.