CHILD PROTECTION INQUIRY

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:25): Supplementary. Premier, the FOI officers, as you indicate, will make an identification as to what will be released or not. My question, and I put it to you as the Premier responsible for the state records, is to seek confirmation about whether that information in the former minister's office is being deleted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (15:25): I don't entirely understand that question, and I don't know whether the honourable member does either. Can I say this: there is no doubt that there were some difficulties with centralised record keeping in relation to this matter, and that has been the subject of adverse comment by Mr Debelle.

It certainly did not assist the former ministers, ministers Rankine and Portolesi. Both of them were not well served by the fact that there was no centralised file that could assist them in receiving accurate and timely information to allow them to answer questions in relation to this matter.

Can I say that what we have seen over the last few days is a very serious report that provides a wonderful source of guidance to make sure that these things never happen again in South Australia. I think it will stand our system in good stead. I know that those opposite have sought to prosecute a case but I must say the case they have sought to prosecute has been wholly unconvincing.