Child Protection

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (14:24): My question is to the Minister for Child Protection. Given the minister was told in May that at least one child under her guardianship was possibly the subject of unlawful sexual intercourse, why didn't she ask for further details given this child was under her care?

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left! The Deputy Premier has the call.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government) (14:25): There was no identification of any particular case. There were general statements made about the concern of—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: It was just a vibe, was it?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Again, the member interjects—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —I think in a most disrespectful manner.

The Hon. A. Piccolo interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Light!

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: A protection racket for an incompetent minister.

The SPEAKER: Order! I warn the member for West Torrens for the second time.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: In relation to the correspondence I received, which was a copy of the material referred to me from the Department for Child Protection on the inquiry as to law reform, there was no identification of any specific case, either current or historical, to identify the subject case that has been the basis of the questions from the opposition member, so there was no indication at that point sufficient to alarm that there was an existing case for the child protection minister. However, and I just want to reaffirm this to the—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Thank you, sir. I just want to reaffirm to the members that there was nothing in this material which was to identify that there was a current or existing concern about an existing person. This was an experience that had been described. It could have been in the Labor Party administration. That wasn't identified. What was identified was an indication from this person who purported to have experience—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Wright and deputy leader!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —and wanting to express her view about what she thought sentencing reform could include. For all the reasons I outlined earlier, I indicated to her the severity with which the law already treats these matters and of which the Sentencing Act prescribes matters to be taken into account, including harm to a victim, which by definition under that legislation includes pregnancy.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Chaffey, I call to order the Premier and the Minister for Education. I call to order the member for Wright and I call to order the member for Light.