CHILD PROTECTION INQUIRY

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (15:34): A supplementary question, sir: perhaps the Premier could outline to the house why it would be perfectly natural for a ministerial adviser to be speaking with the chief executive officer of the education department or his legal counsel about penalties that the education department itself will be putting in place with follow-up from the Debelle inquiry?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (15:34): The first thing I said is that I'm not aware of the situation, but I did say that it would be perfectly natural, if we are being asked questions about this, to make our own inquiries to see what the progress is of a matter of some significant public interest, that is, the progress of disciplinary proceedings against various members of the Department for Education, which are notorious matters of public interest. I think that is completely routine.