JUVENILE DETENTION

Mr GARDNER (Morialta) (15:25): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development with responsibility for child protection. Does the minister stand by her department's submission to the Youth Court last Monday that it is appropriate for an 11-year-old girl under the minister's guardianship to be kept on in Magill youth prison because there were no departmental staff available to transport her back to Mount Gambier after her court hearing?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development) (15:25): I thank the member for Morialta for this question. Of course, I will need to check the submission that he claims my department made.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Well, I will check the entire submission and I am very happy to provide a response. I am not prepared to talk about the circumstances of individual children. We are dealing with the most vulnerable children in our community and we will do our best—and I hope I am able to work with the member for Morialta in his capacity as the shadow minister in this regard—not to revictimise children who are already struggling.