Exceptional Resource Funding

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): My question is for the Minister for Child Protection. Is the minister aware of a directive, issued by email on 27 September to all staff, suspending the exceptional resource funding procedure?

The Hon. R. SANDERSON (Adelaide—Minister for Child Protection) (14:20): What I would like to put further on the record is information that I wasn't able to finish because of all the interruptions. As of 30 April 2019—and this relates to the question—my department had over 3,300 children placed in family-based care. My department has a responsibility to ensure the fair and equitable expenditure of public moneys generally, but where exceptional resource funding is concerned my department is determined to be particularly fair to all.

My department faces the constant challenge of assessing these requests. Some applications in the past year have asked for support that, under the former Labor government's funding, would have equated to one person getting 80 per cent all of the funding available. This is a difficult job and each case is individually assessed. As I said, it was put on hold while all the policies and procedures were re-accounted, but not stopped—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. R. SANDERSON: It was always still going and they were to be individually assessed on a case-by-case basis. My department will continue to consider each application for exceptional needs funding on its merits against the guiding criteria and on a case-by-case basis. I receive continuous briefings from the chief executive on this subject and will continue to support procedures as currently in place.

The government values the significant contribution that our carers provide. We are doing more than ever has been done to support our foster and kinship carers, including delivering our election commitment to extend carer payments to age 21. Since 1 January 2019, additional support is available through the Stability in Family-Based Care program to carers of children who remain in family-based care until they turn 21. I believe there have been 10 children so far who have taken that up.

As Minister for Child Protection, I am committed to maintaining strong relationships with those who open their hearts and homes to our most vulnerable children and young people. Despite the growth in foster carer numbers since the election, there are still children in need. I would encourage anyone considering this important role to call 1300—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order: relevance. The question was: was the minister aware of a directive issued by email on 27 September.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I have the question; thank you, member for West Torrens. It's a valid point of order. I ask the minister to please come back to the substance of the question. I believe she was finishing her remarks.

The Hon. R. SANDERSON: I have finished.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the deputy leader, I call to order the following members: the member for Cheltenham, the member for Wright and the member for Morphett.