Child Protection

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): Yes, it had already been formed; thank you, sir. My question is to the Premier. Is the conduct of every employee involved in the case studies identified in the Nyland royal commission report being investigated by the state government?

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) (14:30): I think we have had these questions before, but the answer to the question I think remains—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Pardon?

Mr Marshall: The Premier wasn't here, so I am asking him the question.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Well, I will speak to him then. We have had these questions before and, to the best of my recollection, even though you may not have been here—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier will be seated. I am sure the Leader of the Opposition wouldn't mind if I called him to order for that. The Deputy Premier.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Yes, so there were specific recommendations in the royal commission about particular staff members. It's my understanding that those recommendations were immediately taken up by the chief executive of the department, Mr Persse. I understood also that he was looking to whether or not there were other people whose actions might have been either directly or indirectly the subject of critique by the royal commissioner and he would be giving consideration to whether further steps needed to be taken in respect of those individuals.

I am very happy to make an inquiry of Mr Persse as to whether there are additional people whose names have come out of that process and get back to the Leader of the Opposition.