CHILD PROTECTION

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:18): I will give up on the Premier. I will try a question to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Under whose authority did the education department representative advise the western suburbs school's governing council that parents should not be told that a rape had occurred at the school, given that the department's legal adviser, Don Mackie, advised that parents should be told?

The minutes of the governing council meeting on 7 May this year revealed that legal advice prepared by the education department stated that it was legal for the governing council to inform the affected community at the western suburbs school, but the education department officer present at this meeting said that this advice was 'clearly incorrect'.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development) (14:19): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for this important question. The first thing to remind this place—and I will get to the leader's question—is that, as soon as we became aware, this person was taken out of the way of children. We—

Mrs REDMOND: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Point of order. What is your point of order?

Mrs REDMOND: By the minister's own admission, her comments currently are not relevant to the question that I asked.

The SPEAKER: But it can be included in the answer that she gives, and she has said that she will get back to the question. This is part of her answer.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: It's very clear that it was this government who asked Justice Debelle to provide advice to us on how it could be that two significant government agencies have a difference of opinion in relation to what did transpire. There is a great deal of speculation on what did and didn't transpire. We all know those facts. However, what is most important is that this man was taken out of the way of children and we will do everything we can—we are doing everything we can to care and protect the children at that school.

Mr GARDNER: Point of order: the minister's preliminary remarks have taken 90 seconds and it is now time to get to the answer. Under whose authority was the officer acting?

The SPEAKER: Thank you. Sit down. There is no point of order there. Minister, have you finished your answer?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Yes.

The SPEAKER: The minister has finished.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!