Child Protection

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:34): My question is to the Premier. Has the investigation of the three employees identified of being under investigation by the Premier on 8 August this year been finalised and, if so, what was the outcome?

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) (14:34): I am not aware of those having been finalised as yet. I will seek to find out some more information about that, but I think it is important for members to understand that, if a person is the subject of a criticism by a royal commissioner or even a journalist, it is not automatic that that person is summarily terminated from their employment.

There is a process to which the government is obliged to adhere. That process involves due process, it involves procedural fairness, it involves an opportunity for any particular allegations which might be put against the individual to be put to that person and that person to be given an opportunity to respond if they are able to respond. Those things have to be done properly because if they are not, the government is not acting as a model employer, and the government is not setting the example that the government should set. Those things often take some time. However, I will inquire as to how far progressed Mr Persse is with that process and I will get back to the Leader of the Opposition.