Ministerial Statement

CHILD PROTECTION

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (11:03): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: About two years ago a despicable act of child sexual abuse was perpetrated at a western suburbs school. The perpetrator was arrested and removed from the school. However, the broader school community was not advised of his arrest, charge or subsequent conviction. An independent review by a former Supreme Court judge will determine why and how this happened.

There is no doubt that parents should have been informed; I am sorry they were not and I have apologised on behalf of the government. The fact it was not disclosed has led to much suffering. This pain has been felt by families and by staff at the school who feel that they have had their opportunity to support their children taken away from them. I worry about the enormous strain on families and staff involved with the school at this time and I want the school community to know that they will get all the support they need from me and this government to overcome these awful events.

Parents at the school where this occurred have now been informed and counselling has been made available for students, parents and staff. Social workers and counsellors are helping teachers to assist students, and parent information sessions are being arranged. A hotline is also available for any information parents need. Other school communities where this man has worked previously have also been advised. Police are helping to investigate any other schools and community organisations where this man had a role. The chief executive of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet has also convened a government task force which includes SAPOL, Education, Health and the Crown Solicitor. The task force will check that there are no other incidents where a school community has not been informed.

Yesterday I met with some parents and members of the governing council of the school where this horrific offence occurred. They are rightly distressed and angry. They told me how difficult it was, and still is, for the volunteering governing council members who had this information and were advised that they could not tell others about it. They want to be part of designing measures to make sure this will never happen again.

I have asked the chief executive of the Department for Education and Child Development to work with the Commissioner for Police on protocols about how and when parents and governing councils are advised and supported. This work will be informed by the outcomes of former Supreme Court Justice Debelle's review. Parents at the school I have spoken to have also asked for clearer information to be given to parents on making complaints. I have asked the Minister for Education to prepare a communication to all parents that sets out the grievance processes, commencing with the teacher, then the relevant school leader, then the parent complaint unit and finally the Ombudsman.

On 1 November 2012 I was asked in this place whether I had checked the records and if I had been advised of this case of child sexual abuse when I was the responsible minister. I replied that I had checked and that I had not been advised. After that answer was given, an email to my office was discovered by my chief of staff and immediately disclosed to the public. The email advised that a person had been arrested for alleged sexual behaviour with children and a message was being prepared to go home to parents. What happened after this is a matter for the review being undertaken by former Supreme Court Justice Debelle. My recollection is that I was not advised of this incident personally and my staff at the time maintain that I was not advised. However, I accept my responsibility to help rectify the harm that has been caused.

The clear message I received last night when I met with parents, staff and governing council members of the school is that we need to work to ensure two critical things: first, that these events will not be repeated anywhere else and, critically, that this school regains its reputation and confidence as a very successful school.