Community Visitor Scheme

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (14:30): My question is to the Minister for Child Protection. When will the minister fund a community visitor scheme, as requested by the Guardian for Children and Young People?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (14:30): I thank the member for the question. The Guardian for Children and Young People has a reporting relationship with the Minister for Child Protection that is particularly relevant for children in care, obviously. There is an absolute value in the fact that, as her relationship with the Minister for Education is similar in an administrative sense, in a landlord sense, in a funding sense, as is the Child Development Council, the Child Death and Serious Injury Review Committee, the children's commissioner, and the Aboriginal children's commissioner, there is a relationship with me.

Indeed, the guardian has a statutory level of independence in her activities, and I certainly don't seek to direct her in that way and she doesn't report to me on that operational sense in terms of choosing where to spend the activities. When she applies for money, that is a budget matter, which is facilitated through me, and it will be considered as part of a budget process.