CHILD'S DEATH

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (14:24): My question again is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. I note the minister declined to answer the previous question—

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order: it is not open to the member for Bragg to make a short speech before asking a question.

Mr Marshall: What standing order is that?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Standing order 97. Okay? I know you're new here, and you may well be a oncer; you have a habit of that in Norwood, but that's how it works.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. Yes, I do uphold that. Could you get to the substance of your question, please, member for Bragg?

Ms CHAPMAN: My question, however, remains on the process of the department. Minister, have you received answers to all those questions that you told the media you would seek from your department? I know you are not going to tell us what they are, but have you actually received the answers from your department as to why they had not acted on the notification of the baby I have referred to?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development) (14:24): What I said to the media when I was interviewed, perhaps last week, was that all of the questions that people have, including the opposition, will be answered—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: —will be answered. But for now I am not prepared to do a single thing that will compromise matters—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Pengilly: Where's the cavalry?

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Finniss!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: —that will compromise legal proceedings. The other point I would like to make in relation to this new relationship that I have with the member for Bragg: I am very, very happy at all times to discuss systems, policies, institutional arrangements—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: —but I am not going to compromise this particular case, nor am I in the future going to put at further risk children who may already be at risk. In relation to this government's commitment to child protection, when we inherited government in 2002, I think the then FAYS budget was about $90 million: it is now somewhere around $300 million.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!