Ministerial Statement

CHILD'S DEATH

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (14:02): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: The death of a child under any circumstances is a tragedy. Like any decent parent I am horrified about the circumstances that have been reported about the death of a little five-year-old boy yesterday. I am at a complete loss to understand how or why a child could ever be given a drug used to treat drug addiction. However, there are difficulties in discussing this matter as a woman has been charged with a very serious criminal offence arising from this tragedy.

I have been informed that this family was a tenant of a Housing SA property and there had been contact by both Families SA and Housing SA. I have received some initial information from these agencies and I am seeking further information. I have asked for a detailed assessment of the processes undertaken and whether the actions taken were appropriate considering the information they had. I am keen to identify if there were any gaps in how this family were dealt with or whether there are any difficulties in the protocols for handling such cases, and if there are we will fix them.

The circumstances of this child's death will also be put under the scrutiny of the Child Death and Serious Injury Committee whose task is to investigate the death of any child, identify any systemic gaps and make recommendations for change.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Bragg!