CHILD PROTECTION

Mr PISONI (Unley) (14:43): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. How did the government fail to identify an alleged child sex offender's prior conviction of public masturbation as a threat to schoolchildren, and when did the nature of the conviction become known to the department?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:43): My knowledge of what was provided to the non-government organisation which employed this person, who we now know has been charged with sexual offences involving a young person in a program to re-engage with schools, was that the police record showed a charge for indecent behaviour which attracted a $400 fine but no child protection notifications for that 15 year old offence had been recorded. This is an offence that was recorded 15 years ago and I cannot give the member for Unley any further advice than that.