Child Protection

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:44): My question is to the Premier. When will the government—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I want to hear the leader's question, please.

Mr MARSHALL: You would do well to listen to this one; it is a very important question, Deputy Speaker.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will take that warning to heart.

Mr MARSHALL: When will the government appoint a dedicated, focused minister for child protection and ensure that there is only one minister in charge of this important portfolio?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:44): Of course, at the moment we are in a phase where we are implementing the reforms that will be received when we receive the final report of Commissioner Nyland. It is appropriate that the current arrangements stay in place for that period. Once the reforms have been implemented, we will give some further consideration to the disposition of the child protection portfolio and I do imagine that it will revert to a single minister once the reform process has been concluded.