Child Protection, Rice Inquiry

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (14:26): My question is to the Minister for Child Protection. Who was correct in telling Paul Rice QC the account of the meeting on 22 September last year following the sentencing of McIntyre? You or your chief executive? With your leave, Mr Speaker, and the leave of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Ms HILDYARD: Mr Rice stated in his report, and I quote:

The Minister told the inquiry that after the media coverage of McIntyre's sentencing, she gave specific instruction to the chief executive that she was to be told in advance of sentencing for any such similar matters.

Mr Rice went on to report:

It seemed the chief executive may have had a different memory of the meeting than the Minister.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government) (14:27): In the report, which I commissioned—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the leader!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —as Attorney-General and in which Mr Rice—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier will resume her seat.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The question is entitled to be heard in silence. The Deputy Premier has the call and is entitled to be heard in silence. Deputy Premier.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I just confirm that the report referred to was commissioned by me as Attorney-General and provided to me by Mr Rice QC in response to our request that not only he make the inquiry as per the terms of reference provided but, in addition to that, he provide that as expeditiously as possible. I am pleased to report, of course, that that is precisely what has happened.

In the course of that, I confirm that if the member would like to review the report she will note that both the minister and the chief executive were interviewed, along with another long list of witnesses that are identified there. The transcript has not been provided to me in respect of the report that I have received from Mr Rice.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the member for Reynell, the member for Playford will leave for 20 minutes in accordance with standing order 137A.

The honourable member for Playford having withdrawn from the chamber:

The SPEAKER: Member for Reynell.