Child Protection

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (15:12): My question is again to the Premier. Premier, can you guarantee that every element of the significant incident management procedure was followed in relation to the recent abuse of a 16 year old in care? With your leave and that of the house, Mr Speaker, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Ms HILDYARD: Premier, in a media release dated 16 February 2021, your government announced that they will, and I quote:

…be establishing a permanent Significant Incident Reporting Unit, to be headed by the Crown Solicitor's nominee. This person will be working closely with the Department for Child Protection Chief Executive, but will report to the Chief Executive of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government) (15:13): Can I assure the house that in fact that unit has been established. As indicated, it was developed under the assistance of my department to ensure that the unit was not only established but that it was—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I am listening carefully to the Attorney-General.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —populated with persons of sufficient expertise to be able to provide assistance in these matters. Members might recall after the Debelle inquiry, there was similarly a dedicated unit set up in the Department for Education. Thankfully, the minister who was in charge in those days is now gone. But now we have a situation where there has been a developed unit of oversight in relation to the Department for Child Protection, and that's something we have provided assistance to. It has been established. Without disclosing the particulars of an individual case, I will make inquiry as to whether there has been any action that I am able to report to the house in respect of those matters.