Safeguarding Taskforce

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:28): My question is to the Premier. Has the Premier instructed his agencies to provide any and all documentation requested by any member of the task force regarding anything to do with this case?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:28): The position of the government is very clear: we want answers in relation to—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Szakacs interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Cheltenham is called to order.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: As the opposition has quite rightly pointed out, in the transition—

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Mawson!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —it's been brought to the attention of all of us of the tragic death of Ann Smith. That has certain approaches that need to be respected, particularly by major crime and ultimately the Coroner, as to ensuring that we don't interfere with that. We are happy to do that. What we have done in the meantime is make it very clear that we will have a task force that will look at if there are any gaps or deficiencies in relation to the three levels of service delivery, including even any other instrumentality at the state level.

It has been made very clear in the announcement relating to this inquiry that we will cooperate and we would expect the commonwealth to cooperate, but to give it coercive powers at this point—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Well, again, the Leader of the Opposition—

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —interrupts to suggest that there be some coercive powers to receive documents.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left, we have the question. Order! Settle down.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: If for any reason there was a failure to provide information or support to this agency contrary—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —to the government's expectation that there be full cooperation—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is warned.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: That's precisely why we've established it. If for any reason, there had been a failure to provide information, obviously we may need to look at that, but I make the point: one of the reasons that I think there has been a composition of this task force not just of those with real experience and expertise, but some of those, in fact, are even employed in government and have access to that information already, which we hope will be of use to the task force. But if the opposition were privy to any information to suggest that there was some either refusal to cooperate or provide information, we would be very happy to receive it.

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee is warned for a second and final time.