Child Protection Department Chief Executive

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (15:23): My question is to the Minister for Child Protection. What involvement, if any, has the minister had in the global recruitment process for the new chief executive of the Department for Child Protection?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD (Reynell—Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:23): I thank the member for his question. What I would say from the outset is that Ms Taylor advised me of her resignation on the morning of 27 January and, as has been spoken about publicly since then, she intends to remain in the position until around about the end of April. I wish her all the best for the future. I am happy to have this opportunity to say that in this house, and I thank her for her commitment in what is a really, really difficult and complex area of policy. I know that she has shown commitment to that role, and again I wish her all the very best in her future endeavours.

I will of course be looking at the recruitment process. I know that I have asked my office to organise a meeting with Erma Ranieri, the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment. From memory—I am certainly happy to speak with the member at the end of question time—I think that meeting is in my diary for very early next week, and there have already been conversations with DPC about the process that will be undertaken in the recruitment of that CEO. I think the Premier has also spoken about that process both on radio and in the media and also in this house.

The SPEAKER: Before I turn to the member for Davenport, I observe that on 19 November 2014, in response to a point of order concerning the asking of a supplementary question to another minister, Speaker Atkinson quoted Erskine May, 24^th edition, at page 366 as follows:

A supplementary question may refer only to the answer out of which it immediately arises, must relate to government responsibility, must not be read or be too long, or quote from letters, should contain only one question, must not refer to an earlier answer or be addressed—

I understand this may have been the point of order that was being considered at the time—

to another Minister.