Yatala Labour Prison Incident

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:21): My question is to the Minister for Correctional Services on the topic of calls for an independent inquiry into the recent death in custody. As the acting minister for Aboriginal affairs, did the Minister for Correctional Services find that he was in a conflict of interest when vetting the Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement's press release on this issue, and does the minister have any explanation as to why that press release took some days to make it through that vetting process?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:22): I am not aware of vetting any particular press release and I don't believe there were any issues around conflict of interest when I was acting in the capacity of Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. In any event, I was in contact with the full-time Minister for Aboriginal Affairs during the course of the event.

Regarding calls for an independent inquiry, I want to be very clear about this: we have one, and it is called the Coroner's inquiry. I don't think there would be anyone in the Department for Correctional Services, I don't think there would be anyone within police and I don't think there would be anyone in the community, who pays any attention to the way the Coroner operates in this state, who would suggest anything apart from the fact that the Coroner is utterly independent. I think the Coroner in South Australia has done an outstanding job in making sure that his office is not just acting independently but is also seen to be acting independently.

I have every confidence that the Coroner will conduct a thorough investigation into this matter and will be able to determine the cause of death. I have to say that is an exercise that I am genuinely looking forward to, because if there is a necessary policy response out of the incident that led up to or occurred in and around the passing of Mr Morrison, I want to know about it. The best way to find out about that is through an independent inquiry, and that is exactly what the Coroner will do.