Legislative Council: Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Contents

Pearce, Ms D.A.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): Minister, can you inform the council of the circumstances that led up to and followed the death of Ms Debra Pearce on 9 May this year, after she sustained injuries during an incident in state-run disability care?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:20): As I have advised members previously, I will not be discussing the individual matters of people. We had a discussion in this place quite recently in relation to duties of care. There is a general duty of care on all of us to maintain confidential matters as confidential matters. I would view that that applies to all members of this chamber—not myself as minister, but I have specific matters in which I must maintain the confidentiality of individual members who are within the services which I am responsible for. I will not be discussing those matters further.