A Select Committee of the Legislative Council has been established to inquire into and report on the Government's decision to cancel the Social Worker Registration Scheme (the Scheme), with particular reference to:
(a) The rationale, evidence, and decision-making process utilised by the Government in the abolition of the Scheme, its Board and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Committee;
(b) The extent, nature, and timing of consultation, or lack thereof, that was undertaken with key stakeholders, affected communities, the broader public, members of the Social Workers Registration Board and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Committee on the prospect of the cancellation of the Scheme;
(c) The extent to which Parliament was informed of implementation progress, challenges, expenditure, costs, risks and available alternatives during consideration of legislation affecting the commencement of the Scheme, including the timing of the Government's consideration and decision not to proceed with the Scheme;
(d) The professional standards, complaints mechanisms, qualification-verification arrangements, conduct requirements and public-protection safeguards proposed to operate following cancellation of the Scheme;
(e) The total financial expenditure incurred on the development of the Social Worker Registration Scheme to date, including but not limited to direct costs, board remuneration, contractual break fees, consultancy fees, costs associated with the development of a portal and any associated departmental expenses;
(f) Any loss of public funds, resources, or assets resulting from the decision to abolish the Social Worker Registration Scheme, its board, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Committee; and
(g) Any other relevant matters.