Question Time

Rigney, Mr R.G.

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN (15:17): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Correctional Services a question.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN: On 26 July, in answer to a question without notice regarding Mr Robert Gordon Rigney, the minister stated that a separate process would be initiated by the chief executive of the Department for Correctional Services to ascertain the mistakes that were made by individuals, the degree of human error that existed and who should be held to account. I ask the minister: has the process been undertaken, has it been completed and has anyone been held to account?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:18): Thank you to the honourable member for his question. I am able to advise that, unfortunately, Mr Rigney remains at large, and that remains an ongoing SAPOL exercise, to ascertain Mr Rigney's whereabouts and bring him back into custody.

I can also advise the chamber that only this week—in fact, it may have been late last week, but certainly in the last seven days—I have made inquiries of the department to ask where their internal investigation is at, regarding precisely what the Hon. Mr McLachlan has asked for. I have been advised since then that the internal review that is being undertaken by the department remains ongoing. Of course, some form of disciplinary action, where it is appropriate, may yet still be a live option to be imposed upon any individuals that have made mistakes.