CHILD PROTECTION INQUIRY

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:28): Supplementary sir; when did the Premier become aware that Jadynne Harvey was involved in drafting the terms of reference for the Debelle inquiry?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:29): Those opposite are trawling through the most minute detail to try and keep alive—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Kavel to order and I also warn the member for Unley for the first time.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: The relevant fact here is that cabinet is the one which decided what the terms of reference should be—terms of reference that it immediately took into this parliament and read to the parliament. I noticed at the time there was no criticism of the terms of reference by those opposite and—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I warn the member for Heysen for the second time; there will be no further warnings. I warn the member for Hammond for the second time and there will be no further warnings. I call to order the member for Davenport.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Thank you Mr Speaker. I can't help those opposite if there is not something in the report that they can hang their hat on that they actually wanted to see in that report.

Mr Gardner: There is plenty, you are just not acting on it.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I know that there was enormous disappointment—

Mr Gardner: You are just not doing anything about it.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I know that there was enormous disappointment in that week we were last in this parliament when they looked at the report, flicking through, trying to find the adverse finding that they were going to—

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Premier, there is a point of order and it would be, of course, the disruptive conduct of the member for Morialta, for which I warn him for the first time. Is there something else?

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Yes, sir; my point of order is in regard to Standing Order 98; the Premier is debating. The question is very clear: when did he become aware that Jadynne Harvey was drafting the terms of reference?

The SPEAKER: We can't have debate, can we? I will listen closely.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Thank you sir.

The SPEAKER: Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: My answer is: it is irrelevant. The cabinet decided upon the terms of reference that those opposite did not challenge when they were brought into this house. You see, Mr Speaker, the way it works there is that they were hoping for so much more and, when confronted with—

Mr PENGILLY: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Point of order, member for Finniss.

Mr PENGILLY: Sir, I ask you if indeed the Premier is not debating the matter?

The SPEAKER: Yes, the Premier does appear to be debating the matter. Has the Premier finished?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Yes.

The SPEAKER: Good.