Mr McCLELLAND(4.11 p.m.) —I support and congratulate the member for Kingston (Ms Jeanes) for her motion promoting child protection. I think the last speech from the member for Hughes (Mrs Vale) demonstrates that we need to do more than mere words however; actions are required.

National Child Protection Week has just been completed. It ran from 7 to 13 September. I would like to congratulate the initiative of the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. Their theme for this year's child protection week—the eighth one that has occurred—was `Putting children first'. The organisation chose that theme because of the firm belief that the best interests of children need to be considered by all sections of the adult community and, indeed, the government.

As has been indicated by previous speakers, there has been a tendency for Australians, particularly those on the conservative side of politics, I think it is fair to say, to regard children as chattels of the family and having that mind-set has caused the philosophy that it is inappropriate to interfere or intervene into what is happening within the walls of the family home. Regrettably, as has been indicated more frequently than not, the abuse happens within the family home. The community as a whole has a responsibility to address that issue.

The Minister for Family Services (Mrs Moylan) said on 27 August:

There is no doubt that there is no more important task we have as a nation than to ensure the safety and the protection of our children.

That is unquestionably true but, again, it is actions not words that are required.

I can give an example as to how child abuse affects all localities. The New South Wales commander of the Child Protection Enforcement Agency recently conducted a phone-in called Operation Paradox. The information revealed 1,520 victims of child abuse and 1,448 suspects, with 623 victims younger than 11 years of age. In terms of my own electorate, in the St George and Sutherland region, there were 12 calls, and the information identified 15 suspects and 11 victims. So it is certainly something that touches all of our electorates, and we have a responsibility to do something about it.

Not only has there been reference to reports concerning Queensland and the Wood report in New South Wales but since 1988 there have been at least nine major reports in Victoria identifying significant problems in policy, practice, legislation and funding with respect to child abuse. However, in June 1996, the Victorian Auditor-General issued a report evaluating the effectiveness of the protection of children and found that the services were wanting in the extreme. So we have a situation where, in our three largest states, three reports all reveal the chronic problem, and something needs to be done.

Perhaps a way forward is an initiative that has been taken by the New South Wales Department of Education which has set up a national register of teachers who have been involved in child abuse. I note that the Premier of New South Wales, after receiving the report of the Wood royal commission into paedophilia, has called on the federal government to establish a similar general register on a national basis.

In a letter from the Premier of New South Wales to the Prime Minister (Mr Howard), the Premier cautions that the only proper response is federal legislation actually setting up the register and that anything less than federal legislation will be completely inadequate. Those on the other side cannot be too precious about states rights when it comes to doing something about paedophilia; the problem is too chronic. I seek leave to tender a copy of that letter from the Premier of New South Wales to the Prime Minister, which letter was also tabled in the New South Wales parliament last week.

Leave granted.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Jenkins) —Order! The time allotted for this debate has expired. The debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.