Grievance Debate

CHILD PROTECTION

Mr GARDNER (Morialta) (15:12): In June 2008, when police discovered what became known as the 'house of horrors', a Housing Trust property in Parafield Gardens where more than 20 children were subject to some of the most appalling degradation, neglect and appalling conditions imaginable—

The SPEAKER: Order! Can we have less background noise, please? Members have finished; can they please leave the chamber and give the member some courtesy.

Mr GARDNER: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The South Australian community were rightly appalled in June 2008 when the circumstances surrounding what became known as the 'house of horrors' became known to the wider public. It was described by police officers working the case who have recently spoken to media sources, including the police review, as the worst case they had ever seen in relation to child protection, of appalling abuses and neglect. The systematic abuse, systematic neglect and degradation by those who were supposed to be there to love and care for them strikes at everything that we believe should be in a family life, and South Australia has been appalled.

On 3 July 2008, in response to the matters relating to the 'house of horrors', the Premier (then as minister for families) made a statement to the house in which he advised the house that the case had been reviewed and referred to the Child Death and Serious Injury Review Committee. The Premier said, 'I have asked the committee to report as soon as possible, and it will be provided with the necessary resources to do so.' That was on 3 July 2008. It is now September 2012.

From 2008 right through until the middle of 2011, the government was saying that they could not comment on the review, and the review could not even be progressed, because the Child Death and Serious Injury Review Committee was prevented, legally, from going into cases that were currently before the courts. The perpetrators of these claims are in gaol, members of the house and Madam Speaker.

The perpetrators of these crimes have been sent to gaol; the matter is not before the courts. The Child Death and Serious Injury Review Committee, we have heard confirmed today by minister Portolesi, is still investigating the matter—the matter that was referred to them to be dealt with as quickly as possible on 3 July 2008. This could not be of more vital importance. I will go back to the Premier's original ministerial statement where he describes why it is so important that this matter be dealt with and the information provided. The Premier said in 2008:

There is justifiable concern as to how this family could slip through the net. Therefore, I have referred the matter to the Child Death and Serious Injury Review Committee, which is chaired by eminent lawyer and past president of the Law Society...Deej Eszenyi.

The Premier went on to say:

The committee's establishment was a key recommendation of the Layton report. Ms Layton identified as one of its key purposes that it specifically determine the quality and effectiveness of interventions with abused and neglected children and their families. It has the specific mandate to identify legislative or administrative means of preventing future deaths or injuries. Significantly, the committee has the authority to compel answers, and so override confidentiality provisions which would otherwise apply to these matters.

On 3 July 2008, Premier Weatherill, when he was then the minister, identified to the house exactly why it was so important that this review should take place, be reported and be available—years ago. If this committee is to have value, it is so we can learn from the mistakes that have happened. We can see where problems have occurred. There is no greater sign of problems in our child protection system than the occurrences at the 'house of horrors' in the first half of 2008, yet 4½ years later we sit here with a mute government unable to comment, save to say that its review is still to arrive.

The minister has apparently had a coffee with the chair of the review committee, but she cannot say anything about it. Four and a half years later we are unable to learn what remedies the government has in relation to the matters in the 'house of horrors', the matters that led to the departmental handling of the 'house of horrors'. It is an appalling state of affairs. It is not good enough.

A year after the perpetrators of these awful crimes have gone to jail has to be adequate time to conduct the sort of review required so that we can learn from the mistakes that were made, so that we can implement any legislative changes that may need to be made, so that we can change any departmental practices and processes that need to be improved. Yet, all we hear from the minister is, 'Sorry, I can't comment on that because the CDSIRC is still discussing the matter.' It is time for the government's review to be completed so that we can go forward, so that the community can be confident in the child protection system that the South Australian government is delivering. The community deserves no less.