Which political parties have policies on WWVP check?

Lawrence Donaldson has reached out to major parties asking if they require working with vulnerable people checks. As a victim-survivor, he believes candidates should have them. Do you agree? VOTE IN OUR POLL

Bass Greens candidate Cecily Rosol and victim-survivor and advocate Lawrence Donaldson – Mr Donaldson calls for political candidates to have working with vulnerable people checks. Picture: Alison Foletta

A child sexual assault advocate is calling on the political parties to get Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) checks for all candidates – with only one party having them.

Lawrence Donaldson, who advocates for safety measures to prevent child abuse, wants all political candidates to have a WWVP card.

“No card, no vote,” he said. “You can’t think that a person you wouldn’t be happy to leave your children with should, in fact, be an elected official.”

Mr Donaldson, who is also a child abuse victim-survivor, said it “showed disdain for the victim-survivor community”.

Lawrence Donaldson set up a LOUDFences outside Launceston General Hospital. Picture: Alison Foletta

“I am disgusted to see politicians who have had ample years to understand this, continue to refuse to get a working with vulnerable people card,” he said.

The Tasmanian Greens are the only party to have a WWVP practice in place.

Mr Donaldson said he was “gratified” at least one party had a policy.

“Pre-selection vetting involves their candidates having a WWVP card and clearly, that’s the way it should have been all along,” he said.

A police check was not enough, he said.

“A police check is manifestly deficient knowing how very few people will end up in front of a court of law,” Mr Donaldson said.

A Greens spokesman said all their lead candidates had either a current WWVP or were in the process of receiving one.

“It is our usual practice for candidates to have a current WWVP registration.

The parent holds the hand of a small child

“Due to the surprise nature of this election, and the time it takes for checks to be completed, this has not been possible for this campaign,” the spokesman said.

“We believe it is good practice for people running for election to have a WWVP card.

“People who represent our community in parliament should be people that can pass this basic check.”

The Tasmanian Liberal Party does not have a policy around WWVP. A party spokesman said the WWVP system was “designed to safeguard our young people”.

“Only those individuals who work or volunteer directly with children are required to hold a current WWVP registration,” the spokesman said.

The Labor Party also does not include a WWVP check.

The Mercury was informed that the Labor Party undertook extensive checks of candidates’ history.

Some of the checks are similar to those undertaken for WWVP cards, but also include many additional checks well beyond a simple police check.

Originally published as Which political parties have policies on WWVP check?