House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2) 52 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Child Protection CHILD PROTECTION Mr PISONI House of Assembly Unley CHILD PROTECTION Mr PISONI (Unley) (14:54): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Why did the education department social worker, sent by the minister's office to provide support, advise parents her priority was supporting the staff at the out of school hours care, rather than parents and students? The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: I am sorry, member for Unley, can you repeat that question? I could not hear it, I was talking; could you repeat it? Mr PISONI House of Assembly Mr PISONI: Certainly, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Why did the education department social worker, sent by the minister's office to provide support, advise parents her priority was supporting the staff at the out of school hours care, rather than parents and students? The Hon. G. PORTOLESI House of Assembly Hartley Minister for Education and Child Development The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development) (14:55): The member asserts that my office sent a social worker down to the school, and then makes a number— Mr Pisoni House of Assembly Mr Pisoni: So, the Department for Education is not your office. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. G. PORTOLESI House of Assembly The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: You said, 'the minister's office'. We are a discrete— Mr Pisoni House of Assembly Mr Pisoni: I said your office. The Hon. G. PORTOLESI House of Assembly The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: We are a discrete operation. Now, I ask the member for Unley to give me whatever information he has. We are very keen on supporting all elements here: the students— Mr Pisoni interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. G. PORTOLESI House of Assembly The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: —the students first and foremost, parents and staff, and we— Mrs Redmond House of Assembly Mrs Redmond: The other way around. The Hon. G. PORTOLESI House of Assembly The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: No, we have to support all of those three elements all at the same time. I have met with teachers; I did that yesterday. The Premier met with representatives of the governing council. I have also met with some parents and representatives of the governing council. We will keep talking about this. I think it is really important, Madam Speaker— Mr GARDNER House of Assembly Mr GARDNER: Point of order, Madam Speaker: 98. The minister was asked why the social worker is helping staff but not parents and students, and she is yet to explain why. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Thank you. No, there is no point of order; the minister can answer the question as she chooses. The Hon. G. PORTOLESI House of Assembly The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I don't accept the premise of the question. I do not accept the premise of the question, but I am very happy to look into it. I am very happy to look into it if the member for Unley is happy to give me information.