FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:31): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing
a question to the Minister for Police on the subject of female genital mutilation.

Leave granted

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Honourable members may recall that earlier this year I asked
the minister some questions about female genital mutilation (FGM). My question for the minister is:
is it the government's position that similar legislative protections which apply for FGM should also be
applied to boys and intersex children?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services,
Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:32): I thank the honourable
member for her important question. In the context of the answers that I have previously provided to
this place, I think the government's position around its view about this particular issue generally is
well known. With respect to the specific question of the honourable member, I am more than happy
to make sure a considered response is provided through the responsible minister who has been
turning his attention to this issue for some time, that being, of course, the Attorney-General. I am
more than happy to make sure the Attorney-General in the other place gets a response back
accordingly.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:33): Supplementary: in the House of Assembly a couple of
months ago, a government member described circumcision as 'non-medical mutilation of boys'. Is it
the government's position that that is the government's view on that matter?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services,
Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:33): Again, the Attorney-General
is the minister who is responsible for this area of public policy. I am more than happy to make sure
that we get a response from the Attorney-General and that we get that response back ASAP.