CHILD PROTECTION INQUIRY

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (15:32): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier assure the house that none of his ministerial staff have had any discussion with the CEO of the education department or any of the CEO's legal advisers about the issue of possible penalties for public servants arising from the Debelle inquiry?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Yes, can we have that again, because I am not sure that I follow it?

Mr MARSHALL: I am happy to do it again, sir. Can the Premier assure the house that none of his ministerial staff have had any discussion with the CEO of the education department or any of the CEO's legal advisers about the issue of possible penalties for public servants arising from the Debelle inquiry?

The SPEAKER: Okay, that's clear, thank you.

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I call the member for Finniss to order.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (15:33): I understand the question to be: have members of my staff sought to ascertain what the situation may be in relation to disciplinary action in relation to staff members of the education department? I don't know the answer to that question, but if they are making inquiries about that matter I would have thought it is pretty natural.

It has been a matter of some regular comment and interest by those opposite and the general community about what the fate of those disciplinary matters are, and we are awaiting and looking forward to the outcome of those matters. Indeed, I think those opposite have been regularly inquiring about these matters, as has the minister's office, and we are awaiting, of course, the chief executive's deliberations, which are entirely matters for him.