House of Assembly: Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Contents

Child Protection

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (15:10): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Can the minister outline how many random checks of residential accommodation facilities have occurred since this practice was implemented after there were allegations of child sexual abuse raised against a 32-year-old Families SA worker?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Education and Child Development) (15:11): I am happy to get an answer and bring that back to the house but we had a system and do have a system where supervisors were already making those checks and we have increased that. Most of the facilities are being visited and they are visited at different times. They are unannounced as far as I am aware and certainly—

Mr Marshall: How many?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: I heard your question and if you listened to my answer—

The SPEAKER: And I am listening.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: The Leader of the Opposition is not listening. I give him an answer and he shouts over the top of me.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Louise! I am happy to bring that detail back to the house but I am trying to make the point that those sorts of checks were happening and that we have increased them. We have a specialist team now that is out and about making those checks. What that is about is making sure that things are as they should be in those homes and any issues that need to be raised can be raised.