Personal Explanation

Education Department

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (11:01): I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: At the estimates committee hearing on Thursday 25 July, I responded to a question in relation to the average time it takes the incident management directorate in the Department for Education to complete their investigations. I indicated that there is a target that matters be resolved in six months and that the target has been fairly consistently met since I became minister unless there are specific circumstances. I described those circumstances as usually being court matters waiting to be resolved or other matters of a legal nature.

For the sake of absolute clarity and the absence of any doubt, I advise the house that I have subsequently been advised that the department has checked and they have considered and will consider extensions to the target on occasions for matters such as staff or witness illness or unavailability.