House of Assembly Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1) 53 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Ministerial Statement Ministerial Statement Royal Commission into the Safety and Welfare of at Risk Children Royal Commission into the Safety and Welfare of At Risk Children The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly Cheltenham Premier The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:18): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement. Leave granted. The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I rise to inform the house that consultation on a term of reference for a royal commission into the safety and welfare of 'at risk' children will begin today. The recent allegations against a carer in Families SA are shocking to me, the community, and those who work every day to keep our children safe. The allegations have also raised concerns about our child protection system. These concerns must be addressed and that is why the government has committed to an inquiry of the highest level looking into how we can best protect children in our care. Children have a right to be safe, nurtured and supported and we, as a government, and the broader community have an obligation to protect them from harm. The proposed Royal commission will inquire into the state's child protection system: it will look at the policies, practices, procedures and structures of how we care for vulnerable children. Broader than that, it will also look at government and non-government organisations charged with the care and protection of children deemed at risk of harm. It will also inquire into the structure, staffing and resourcing of the state's child protection system. Formal terms of reference for the royal commission are still being finalised and, because of the importance of the subject matter, the government will consult with the community on the matters to be investigated. Draft terms of reference will today be published on the government's yourSAy website. They will remain on this website for a period of seven days, during which time interested members of the community are encouraged to comment on them. These comments will be considered by the government before the final terms of reference are settled. We need to do all we can to ensure children are protected, and I welcome the feedback to these terms of reference and, once settled, the commencement of the royal commission.