Child Protection

Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (15:18): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Now that the minister has had time to go back to her department in relation to the Tucker case, can the minister now tell the house if she was satisfied that the process the department was to follow when a child goes missing was, in fact, undertaken in this case, and was the matter referred to police?

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Higher Education and Skills) (15:19): I welcome the opportunity to answer this question as it will clear off a number of outstanding questions I have taken on notice previously. I have now had formal advice from the legal section of the child protection department which has advised me in the clearest possible terms that it is inappropriate for me to comment on any matter relating to this instance on the basis both of the Children's Protection Act and also the juvenile offenders legislation.