Female Genital Mutilation
Reverend the Hon. Dr GORDON MOYES: I ask the Minister for Disability Services, representing the Attorney General, a question without notice. Is the Minister aware of the practice of female genital mutilation as documented by Minority Rights Group report No. 47, entitled “Female Circumcision, Excision and Infibulation”, which describes this practice as akin to torture? Is the Minister aware that reports indicate that in New South Wales at least 40 women are treated at Sydney’s Auburn Hospital alone every year as victims of this practice? Given the number of cases in this one Sydney Hospital, will the Minister indicate why prosecutions under section 45 of the Crimes Act have not been initiated against any of those involved in perpetrating this practice against women, as denigrated by the Minister for Women? Will the Minister consider introducing legislation to compel doctors, nurses and others in positions of responsibility that discover cases of female genital mutilation to report these cases to police?
The Hon. JOHN DELLA BOSCA: Clearly, the honourable member’s question deals with a very serious matter, a matter sometimes, but not always, in the public debate. I will seek an answer from the Attorney General. I expect that he will be able to provide a prompt response to the honourable member.
