Child Protection

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (14:18): My question is to the Minister for Child Protection. Why doesn't the minister respond to children in state care when they reach out to her for help? With your leave, sir, and that of the house I will explain.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order, sir. I am not going to make any comment with regard to what might have come after seeking leave, but there was an enormous amount of argument and innuendo in the words that were already spoken. Argument in the content of the question is not allowed.

The SPEAKER: The question does involve—

Mr Cregan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Kavel! The question does involve essentially a presupposition of fact. If the member wishes to seek leave, the member may seek leave for the opportunity to explain.

Ms HILDYARD: With your leave and that of the house, I will explain, Mr Speaker.

Leave granted.

Ms HILDYARD: Survey results from children in care tabled by the government this week include the statement, 'Things would be better if people answered my letters when I write to them', and, 'The minister didn't.'

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order: as I reminded the house yesterday, Speaker Atkinson made it very clear that, when one is quoting from a document, a judicial document or indeed what I'm guessing is—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: A judicial review, is it? Oh, thank you very much.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for West Torrens will cease interjecting. The Minister for Education has the call.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Whatever the context is, the document needs to be cited accurately, in full and with identification of source to the detail. None of that was in this case and indeed the context is therefore suspect.

The SPEAKER: The point of order goes to the proper identification of the document. The member for Reynell has quoted from a document. If the document is available to be provided to the Chair, I will receive it and consider the point of order in those circumstances. If the member for Reynell has anything further to add, then I invite her to do so, otherwise I will invite an answer to the question.

Ms HILDYARD: The document I referred to was the Guardian for Children and Young People report, which was tabled by the Minister for Child Protection in this house on Tuesday of this week.

The Hon. R. SANDERSON (Adelaide—Minister for Child Protection) (14:21): My office receives lots of correspondence and, as far as I'm aware, we do write back to the people who contact my office. I have engaged heavily with children in care by visiting them in their residential care homes right from the beginning, despite being questioned about why I would be doing that and despite that no ministers before me have done it so extensively.

I make every effort to meet with children at kinship carer events and at foster carer events. I visit them in their homes. I have visited them online. I have been cooking with them online as well over the school holidays, so I make every effort to be available and contactable to these children. I am very sorry if there was something overlooked. I am more than happy to follow it up if you have any proof or evidence.