CHILD PROTECTION INQUIRY

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:47): My question is to the Premier. Given that Mr Blewett's testimony to the Debelle inquiry was quite clear, in that he did not think it was important to inform the minister either at the time or even subsequently, why does the Premier continue to defend his friend, saying that this was an isolated mistake and not an ongoing position that Mr Blewett still holds?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:47): Because of the remarks I made earlier: one is that he accepts it is a mistake; that he now accepts the full force of what Mr Debelle has said. He has endured the public censure associated with those matters and I have made a judgement that it is an isolated mistake in what has otherwise been meritorious service over an extended period of time.

The SPEAKER: Supplementary from the leader.