Child Protection

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:17): Supplementary: given the Attorney's indication, as Minister for Child Protection Reform, that a directive has been issued in respect of the obligation of staff not to ask questions or require permission from parents to ask questions, which was referred to, will he now confirm that there are no unsupervised trainees (which is a separate obligation and recommendation of the Coroner) continuing in the department and providing this service to children and families?

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, Minister for Child Protection Reform) (15:17): I think that was the question I thought I was answering in the last question. I believe, I am advised and I understand that there has been an instruction to that effect conveyed to staff by the chief executive. It is my expectation—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I am not capable of personally sitting there, watching every single person. All I can tell you is that the normal mechanism by which instructions are given to staff in any government department—

Mr Marshall: They haven't been following it in the past; that's the whole point of the Coroner's recommendation.

The SPEAKER: The leader is on two warnings.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: All I can tell you is that, as a minister or as a chief executive, you can issue directions, or you can give instructions, or you can make determinations. If people refuse to cooperate with those, or don't for some reason, that might constitute a disciplinary matter. It is not a matter where there can be a warranty, self-evidently; but, it is our expectation (that is, the minister's and mine) that that instruction, having been given, will be observed.