Child Protection

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (14:09): I seek leave to make a further ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: On 1 July 2013, the government released a report from former Supreme Court justice Bruce Debelle following the completion of his royal commission, the Independent Education Inquiry. This report had been edited by commissioner Debelle, and he recommended a final, unedited report be released once a legal event had occurred. On 20 August this year, the Director of Public Prosecutions advised my office that the legal event referred to by commissioner Debelle had occurred. Today, I table the unedited final report.

I have been advised by the Crown Solicitor's Office that transcripts and exhibits from the Debelle royal commission may contain details, the disclosure of which would constitute a breach of various statutory provisions, including section 71A(4) of the Evidence Act, which serve to protect the victims of sexual abuse. Crown is now working through the significant volume of material to consider whether redactions are necessary to avoid breaches of this or any other statutory provisions. I have asked that Crown work as quickly as possible to review the documents, and I will table them in parliament once that work is completed.

Finally, I would like to make an important request of the media. The final report names the school in question. It also names schools where the offender worked previously. I would ask the media to show restraint and not to report this detail out of respect for the victims and all of those in the school community who have been affected by the events. The report is available to view on the education department website. I table the report of the Independent Education Inquiry.