Child Protection

Ms SANDERSON (Adelaide) (14:40): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Does the minister stand by the former minister's comments regarding Shannon McCoole that, 'there were no indications that would have prohibited his employment'? Recent evidence to the royal commission indicated that McCoole was identified as high risk and very unsuitable during an application process for work with Families SA but was offered work anyway.

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for Consumer and Business Services, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:40): The situation with respect to Mr McCoole is presently the subject of a quite extensive investigation by Commissioner Nyland. We take the view that she is obviously going to be examining this very thoroughly at the present time, and we will await her findings in respect of that matter.