House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2) 52 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Disabled Students, Transport Arrangements DISABLED STUDENTS, TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS Mr PISONI House of Assembly Unley DISABLED STUDENTS, TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS Mr PISONI (Unley) (14:40): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Given that the minister has agreed that the change in transport arrangements for children with autism could have been handled better, when will Kirsten Richards and other affected parents be advised of their children's new transport arrangements? I was advised this morning by Kirsten Richards that she is still unaware of her child's transport arrangements for the new school term which starts next week. The Hon. G. PORTOLESI House of Assembly Hartley Minister for Education and Child Development DISABLED STUDENTS, TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development) (14:41): I have to say that that surprises me— Mr Pisoni House of Assembly Mr Pisoni: Nothing surprises me, Grace. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. G. PORTOLESI House of Assembly The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: —because Kirsten Richards made contact with our office and she received contact from the department the same day— Mr Pisoni interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! Mr Pisoni interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Unley will behave or leave. The Hon. G. PORTOLESI House of Assembly The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I suspect they asked her a number of questions to try to get to the bottom of what was going on. That is what we try to do: establish fact as opposed to fiction. We regard the safety and the comfort of our most vulnerable children to be the utmost priority in this— Ms Chapman House of Assembly Ms Chapman: When is she going to know? The Hon. G. PORTOLESI House of Assembly The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Well, as I understand, the family was given two days' notice. The school was advised, say, on the Monday—and I do not have this information in front of me, so I could be corrected—and I believe that they advised the family on the Thursday or the Wednesday, and that was for the service to commence in term 3. So, actually the changes— Mr Pisoni House of Assembly Mr Pisoni: So when is he being picked up? What time? Which driver? The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. G. PORTOLESI House of Assembly The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: —to be experienced by the young man will not be felt until the beginning of term 3, but the school was advised and, in a matter of a number of days, it advised the family. I have acknowledged very openly, in a very non-defensive manner, that I think more time would have been appropriate because of the very nature of the children that we are dealing with. I acknowledge that, but I have to say— Members interjecting: The Hon. G. PORTOLESI House of Assembly The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Exactly. Routines are very, very important for our children who are on— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. G. PORTOLESI House of Assembly The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: —the spectrum. In fact, routines are very important for most children. But I have to say that I have acknowledged that more time would have been preferable. They are now going to make sure that, in future review processes, much more time is given to families. The department and my office acted promptly when we were contacted by the constituent. I think we have done our best in this situation.