Child Protection

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (14:38): My question is to the Minister for Child Protection. Will the minister commit to publicly releasing the Rice review into the two 13-year-old girls in state care being abused by paedophiles?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government) (14:38): I thank the member for her question. Just so it is absolutely clear, I will repeat it: the report process is one where the report is provided to me as Attorney-General. That has to be provided to me, and that is publicly on the record. I repeat what I said earlier in relation to that, and I indicate that that will be a matter of course.

There have been other inquiries. For example, I recall when the Debelle inquiry occurred, the circumstances that occurred in that arrangement—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —were, for example, that there be a considerable amount of the report redacted. As members of the opposition, we were invited to meet with the members of the government and with Mr Debelle, who of course was a former Supreme Court judge, in relation to the education inquiry and be briefed in relation to the terms and condition of publication that he was proposing to set out. That was the first time I had ever come across that in relation to an inquiry such as that, and so I just indicate—

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Point of order, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Lee rises on a point of order.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: The question was quite specific about whether the report would be released. We don't need to be regaled with the Deputy Premier's parliamentary experience of the Debelle report. It's a simple yes or no question and I raise standing order 98.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right! I remind members of the commentary among others of Blackmore at page 127. Some latitude is given to make sense of the question and otherwise to provide some context. I am listening carefully to the Deputy Premier. The Deputy Premier has the call.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Therefore, using that example, I can't prejudge or pre-guess at this point whether the inquirer, Mr Rice QC, will actually seek that there be portions or otherwise, for example, to be redacted and/or concealed during any other inquiry. I think one of the cases in particular—I'm not sure yet what has been concluded, the sentencing or the appeal period. In any event, that is the sort of thing I just point out. I can't prejudge that.

I have indicated to the parliament—I repeat for the benefit of the member—that it's the government's wish that we get to the bottom of this and we makes sure that all children, including children under the statutory care of the Chief Executive of the Department for Child Protection, and the notification in relation to that and whatever policies are in place are complied with and, if they require amendment, that we listen to those recommendations. Of course, I repeat again for the benefit of the member for Lee that it is the government's wish—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan: To blame a public servant?

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Lee!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —that we will address those issues on the recommendations that are made and that ultimately expect it will be a matter subject for discussion here in the parliament if there is any statutory reform required.