Working with Children Checks

Ms PRATT (Frome) (14:26): My question is to the Minister for Human Services. Can the minister confirm that all of her staff have had up-to-date working with children checks? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Ms PRATT: The minister has undertaken many visits to schools, childcare centres and child-safe environments, and the public has a right to know whether the minister keeps meticulous, up-to-date records of her staff's working with children checks.

The Hon. N.F. COOK (Hurtle Vale—Minister for Human Services) (14:26): Thanks very much. I will get an absolutely specific answer back to the house with respect to any of the updates that are required.

The Hon. D.G. Pisoni: You don't know?

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is called to order. The minister has the call.

The Hon. N.F. COOK: I can confirm that the most recent staff member coming on board—we asked for that to happen at the very start of the office being formed—has secured their working with children clearance. I certainly have mine.

In terms of working with children clearances, these are really necessary when people are being left alone with children in an isolated capacity. They're actually not essential for all workers who do all jobs just in the presence of children. They are absolutely essential when people are doing a job in isolation without the supervision of a trained person. To clarify, there has been no occasion when anyone from my office has been left by themselves with children in any environment or capacity in the nature of their work.

Ms PRATT: Supplementary, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: The member for Frome on a supplementary, and I do caution that a supplementary ought to be to the same minister.