Disability Services

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:38): Supplementary arising from the answer: can the minister assure the chamber that South Australia is abiding by all its obligations under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Nationally Consistent Worker Screening, particularly in relation to the guidelines in Queensland?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:39): I'm not sure what the honourable member is referring to in relation to guidelines in Queensland. My understanding is that we do comply with the agreements. I received something quite recently, I think, from the Quality and Safeguards Commission in relation to the next stage of a national disability worker screening system, which was due to go live prior to now.

My understanding is that the screening unit is ready for that system as soon as the other states are available, and that the screening system is now due for February next year. We have, in addition, asked the Quality and Safeguarding Commission to provide us access to their carer concerns because we think that information is important to advise our screening unit of anything that may be on their system, so clearly the more information that is provided to the DHS screening unit the better.