Child Protection

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:13): Supplementary: can the minister perhaps outline to the house then the breakdown of responsibilities for child protection between the Minister for Education and Child Development and his own portfolio of child protection reform?

The SPEAKER: Would the Deputy Premier care to enlarge on what is publicly available?

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) (14:13): Yes, I would appreciate the opportunity. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The situation is that there are a number of reports which are presently being considered by government. One of them was a report produced by the Coroner, Mr Johns, some time ago in relation to the tragic death of Chloe Valentine. That resulted in a series of actions, some of which needed to be taken here—when I say 'here', I mean in the parliament—and that is proceeding, albeit not quite as quickly now as it was when it was in here. There is also obviously the baby Ebony report and we also, as you know, have a royal commission.

My primary responsibility is to, in coordination with the minister, work on a cabinet committee which is trying to draw together the various people within government who have responsibility in this area. There are a number of ministers here, including the Minister for Health for example, who clearly have an interest in this area because of things like hospitals and other things. Primarily, I am the coordinator of that committee. I am also there to work with the Minister for Education and Child Development on higher policy issues about the—

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is called to order.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: The day-to-day administration, or line administration of the department, as it is often described, is a matter for a ministerial colleague, and she deals with that matter. I am there to—

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is called to order.