Ministerial Statement

Child Protection Systems Royal Commission

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) (11:03): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Today, the government seeks to introduce the largest piece in a suite of legislative reforms in response to the Child Protection Systems Royal Commission. This comes with the government's announced investment of more than $430 million to deliver a new child protection system in South Australia.

On 29 November 2016, the government released its response to the royal commission, together with the Children and Young People (Safety) Bill 2016, for public consultation. Since then, the government has received a number of submissions and comments from government and non-government organisations, and members of the public. The government has listened to the feedback and a number of changes have been made to the bill, including reinstatement of provisions regarding Child Safe Environments.

Child Safe Environments reflect the importance of addressing risk factors as early as possible to avoid the need for statutory intervention. As outlined in the government's response to the Child Protection Systems Royal Commission, the government is committed to reorientating the child development system and has committed a significant increase in funding to early intervention and prevention. These reforms require a whole-of-government and non-government partnership to progress and will not be fixed by legislation alone.

When risks increase and a statutory response is required we need to have the right measures in place to empower the Department for Child Protection to make the right decisions. The Children and Young People (Safety) Bill 2016 reforms the statutory child protection system in South Australia from the ground up. Tinkering with the current act is no longer an option.

We have heard that tragedies have occurred in the past because too often the safety of children has given way to the goal of keeping families together when it is too late to do so. This bill makes unequivocally clear that the safety of children is paramount in the administration and enforcement of the bill. Of course, there are other important considerations that those working with the bill will have to take into account; however, it reiterates that these will always be subject to the child's safety.

By providing these guiding boundaries, it allows for the department to set necessary policies and procedures that allow for the professional judgement of those working closest to children and young people. The bill also enshrines the involvement of children and young people in the decision-making process, increases rights and recognition of carers, and lays the foundation for alternative intervention avenues such as child and family assessment and referral networks and family group conferences.

I thank all those who have provided input and feedback into this important bill and look forward to its swift passage through parliament so that the regulations and transitional provisions can be drafted.