CHILD PROTECTION

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:14): That was an interesting contribution from the member for Davenport. I think he thinks because he expresses himself as loud as he possibly can, he must be right. I point out that the people of South Australia are seeing with awe the development of the SAHMRI building, the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the upgrade of the Modbury Hospital, the upgrade of the Lyell McEwin Hospital, the upgrade of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The upgrade of the Lyell McEwin Hospital, from my recollection, was announced about five times and not a dollar spent, so what they have seen from this government is action, not promises, not just loud shouting and thinking that makes you right. I want to address the house today—

Mr Hamilton-Smith interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The minister will be seated. The member for Waite is called to order for making exotic noises on the front bench which are obviously designed to mimic how he thinks women speak loudly.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: It is alright to bellow like a walrus, sir.

The SPEAKER: Well it is when you are in order.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Thank you, sir; I am just making the point. They don't make a joke of some bloke in here bellowing like a walrus, but never mind. I want to make comment on an article on the InDaily website today. It is about a 'political frenzy' over child protection in schools. This is an incisive analysis of the effects of the opposition leader's politicisation of child sex abuse.

Could I preface my comments by making it clear that there is nothing more abhorrent than child sex abuse. It is the most depraved, baseless act. The only thing that comes close, perhaps, is an attempt by an individual or individuals to in some way make political mileage out of it. So, we find ourselves amongst this 'political frenzy' that has:

...left every teacher feeling tainted—and has meant the leadership of the Education Department is no longer focused on improving educational outcomes.

On the back of more allegations by the opposition leader and the member for Unley today, Jan Paterson, president of the South Australian Secondary Principals' Association, told InDaily that:

...principals felt they were all being blamed for failures in child protection in the wake of the Debelle Royal Commission, despite the good health of the huge public school system.

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey is called to order.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: I echo the words of Ms Paterson that good work in our school system is not being acknowledged. Any focus on the many great things that happen at hundreds of schools across the state every day has been deliberately and repeatedly derailed by an opposition leader and his spokesperson who are yet to find a low to which they will not stoop.

Of course, they disguise their actions as righteousness and a desire to hold the government accountable, but it is becoming increasingly apparent that it is simply a political crusade that the opposition leader is convinced will deliver government. Ms Paterson puts it best, I think, when she says:

It's very depressing for people who go every day to give their all and do their best for the students only to see bad news stories.

Ms Paterson said:

...it might be 'the reality for a short time' that 'political mileage' would be sought from the situation in the lead-up to the election.

She also said:

It's difficult to know that schools are being used as a political football...It's like we have failed every child in every school in every situation.

I note that Mr Steve Portlock, President of the South Australian Primary Principals' Association, said:

I think the constant knocking in the media has certainly knocked around the morale of primary principals...Primary principals are very proud to be working in the public system, but they feel a bit dented at the moment.

After 11 years in political purgatory, the opposition has resorted to the most desperate and shameless act to claw their way back into power. If they do, the opposition leader will get there by climbing atop a pyre of honest, hardworking teachers whose reputations have been sacrificed in the name of political expediency.

We saw yesterday inappropriate comments being made in this chamber that need to be dealt with. We saw that the best the lead spokesperson in relation to the Children's Protection Act could do was read someone else's article—that was his contribution—and he didn't even know what recommendations the legislation was addressing—that is how much commitment they have to child protection in South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The minister will be seated. The minister will receive time on. The member for Waite is not being called. The member for Chaffey is warned a first time, and the member for Morialta is called to order. Has the minister finished?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: I will just restate that: the member for Unley came in here yesterday reading someone else's words as a contribution to legislation, and he did not even know which recommendations of Mr Debelle were being addressed in the legislation. That's how much effort he puts in; that's how much they care about child protection in this state.