House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2) 52 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Departmental Executives DEPARTMENTAL EXECUTIVES Mr PISONI House of Assembly Unley DEPARTMENTAL EXECUTIVES Mr PISONI (Unley) (14:50): Were any of the previous candidates that the Premier (the then education minister) described as 'a quality field' approached to apply for the position this time around? The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly Wright Minister for Education and Child Development Minister for Multicultural Affairs DEPARTMENTAL EXECUTIVES The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:50): No, they weren't, and they weren't approached because we were not prepared to take a backwards step in the important work that we are undertaking in improving child safety, improving the processes within the department in handling these important issues, and making sure that the education reforms that Mr Bartley has started— Mr Pederick interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Hammond is called to order and warned for the first time. The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: —will continue. We were not prepared, sir, to set those things aside to wait another four to six months while we went through a lengthy process when we had an outstanding candidate here who we thought could do the job.