CHILD PROTECTION

Mr PISONI (Unley) (15:11): My question is to the Premier. Is the premier aware of allegations made by victims of serious and organised sexual abuse and their families that the Oxfordshire County Council was unresponsive to requests for help at the time when Keith Bartley was director for children, young people and families?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (15:11): I refer the honourable member to the statement that's been made by the chief executive, which outlines his understanding of these matters. It's worthwhile pointing out that he first became aware of them, I think, in June of this year and that's the first he has heard of these matters.

There is nobody, apparently, in the United Kingdom that's contacted him concerning these matters. He says he has no knowledge of them but, if there is an inquiry into some of these matters, he will no doubt cooperate with it. We note that some of the matters concern a time prior to the time when he had responsibility for child welfare matters in Oxfordshire.