CHILDREN IN STATE CARE INQUIRY

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:00): Will the Premier explain why the police department has refused to investigate allegations that a person known as Mother Goose has raped and indecently assaulted young boys when a request was specifically made by Commissioner Mullighan to do so?

The Hon. K.O. Foley interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the Deputy Premier!

Ms CHAPMAN: The public claim by Brad Shannon that police have failed to investigate this person after he provided evidence to Commissioner Mullighan's inquiry is well known. His evidence includes allegations that he was raped at age 14 years, that Mother Goose admits he was with the boy but denies the rape and, further, that 'Mother Goose has a brother high in the police department'. Yesterday, he claimed that police would not investigate the matter unless he signed a waiver that he would not take action against Mother Goose. That is all on the public record.

When no action was taken, Commissioner Mullighan wrote to Mr Mal Hyde on 19 July 2005. The letter states:

Some time ago I took evidence from him and forwarded a copy of the transcript to Assistant Commissioner Fahy. Police officers under his direction investigated Mr Shannon's allegations of being raped many years ago by a person known as Mother Goose.

The letter names the person who is accused—and I will not be repeating that—and then continues, 'The rape was alleged to have occurred in Walkerville.' He then encloses a further transcript. The letter continues:

He can see no reason why this man should not be charged with rape. He would like to speak to an appropriate member of the police about the matter as soon as possible.

After referring to another issue, the letter continues:

I am not aware of any reason why the investigation has been brought to an end promptly.

Then by letter dated 8 March 2006 Commissioner Mullighan wrote to Mr Brad Shannon advising him—

Mrs Geraghty interjecting:

Ms CHAPMAN: Listen up! The letter states:

I write to inform you that the investigation into Mother Goose continues and I am hoping to be able to provide further information to the police in the next few weeks.

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (15:02): I will ask the Minister for Police to request a report from the Police Commissioner on this matter. However, let us contrast what we have done in this area compared with our predecessors. I know the Leader of the Opposition is very proud of his role as a minister in the previous Liberal government. In our first month in office we commissioned the Robin Layton inquiry into child protection; and then we acted upon her recommendations. We introduced tougher penalties for paedophiles. We introduced tougher parole conditions for repeat paedophiles.

We lifted the insidious prohibition that prevented people being prosecuted for paedophile offences prior to 1982—which your government refused to lift. I could not see the difference between child sexual abuse in 1983 and child sexual abuse in 1981. My view is that I do not care when they commit the offence—whether it was in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s or 1960s—the people responsible should be brought to justice. Therefore, the difference between our six years and your eight years in government is that we lifted the lid on child sexual abuse in this state while you covered it up.