Child Protection

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:25): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Can the minister inform the house whether the department is still meeting-focused and incapable of making decisions, as described by Mr Waterford and confirmed by the Peter Allen review?

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Higher Education and Skills) (14:25): As I said, I have only had the benefit of reading the media reports of what is purported to have been said before the royal commission by a former employee of Families SA, the person who formerly ran Families SA within the department. I very much look forward to the considered views of Margaret Nyland on all of the evidence that she has heard and, therefore, the advice that she gives on what ought to take place in order to continue to improve child protection within this state. The allegation that is being transmitted via, presumably, media reports and then into question time of being meeting-focused is not my observation of the department.