CHILDREN IN STATE CARE INQUIRY

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:23): I refer to a ministerial statement regarding Mother Goose made by the Attorney-General in another place. It states:

On 8 April 2008, the member for Bragg made allegations that South Australia Police has refused to investigate allegations referred to the Commissioner of Police by Commissioner Mullighan that a person known as Mother Goose has raped and indecently assaulted young boys.

The Commissioner of Police has provided the Minister for Police with information about the handling of Commissioner Mullighan's referral and Brad Shannon's allegations against the police. The information provided by the Commissioner of Police establishes that Brad Shannon's complaints about the police handling of this matter are without foundation.

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition [in another place] has repeated Brad Shannon's baseless allegations against the police in parliament without first inquiring whether there was any substance to it. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition [in another place] has recklessly published spurious claims of police mishandling of a serious criminal matter. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition [in another place] has been completely indifferent to the unjustified harm to the reputation of the Commissioner of Police and his officers.

The information provided by the Commissioner of Police shows that the allegations made by Brad Shannon concerning historical child sexual offences were referred to SAPOL by the Children in State Care Commission of Inquiry (the commission) in March 2005.

Brad Shannon was subsequently interviewed by investigators on 22 April 2005 in relation to a number of child sexual abuse allegations, including those involving a person known as Mother Goose. During this interview, Brad Shannon stated that he did not wish to provide police with a signed statement regarding these allegations.

On 4 May 2005, Brad Shannon attended the Whyalla Police Station and signed a report requesting that police take no further action in relation to his allegations against the man known as Mother Goose. Mr Shannon stated in this report that he wished no further police action be taken because 'that was the basis of me providing information to both the Mullighan Inquiry and SAPOL'. As a result of subsequent correspondence between the Mullighan commission and the Acting Police Commissioner, Mr John White, a review was conducted by SAPOL of the allegation that undue pressure was placed on Brad Shannon by investigators to request no police action.

In a letter dated 23 August 2005, Mr White advised the Mullighan commission that the SAPOL review did not support the allegation that undue pressure was placed on Brad Shannon.

During this review, Brad Shannon was contacted by an investigator from the Paedophile Task Force and declined the offer of making a formal police complaint. Mr White also advised the Mullighan commission at this time that Brad Shannon 'again confirmed his position that he desired no further police action in respect of allegations surrounding the person known as "Mother Goose".'

In June 2007, an officer of the Paedophile Task Force contacted Brad Shannon per telephone. During this telephone conversation Mr Shannon confirmed that he still did not wish to take any action against the man known as 'Mother Goose'. Brad Shannon did, however, state that he was willing to provide a statement and appear in court to corroborate other victims who may have come forward.

The officer indicated that he was willing to attend in Whyalla to speak further about these issues. Brad Shannon responded that he would contact the officer in the future when he travelled to Adelaide. He failed to make any further contact with the officer.

I am advised that investigators from the Paedophile Task Force will again contact Mr Shannon to ascertain if he is now willing to provide a statement to police regarding his allegations. If he does provide a statement, his allegations will be fully investigated. As recently as this morning on radio the Commissioner of Police invited Brad Shannon to give a statement, if he is willing to do so.

Day in, day out the state's police force works hard to keep the people of South Australia safe. They carry out their work with integrity and great professionalism. This government has full confidence in our police force and will expose the opposition's game of using this parliament to run down our police.

The PRESIDENT: I remind ministers that, when they do make a ministerial statement, they should seek leave prior to each individual statement.

An honourable member interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I am sure the minister did not do it on purpose.