Question Time

Integrity Care

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (16:10): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Human Services regarding disability services.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: It has been reported that Integrity Care continues to operate from premises in Edwardstown. NDIS-related websites continue to advertise Integrity Care as a disability provider that is registered for the following support types: accommodation and tenancy assistance, daily personal activities, development of daily living and life skills, group centre-based activities, high-intensity daily personal activities, household tasks, participate community and specialist disability accommodation.

Today it has been reported that SAPOL raided the offices of Integrity Care after staff refused to cooperate with investigators. Superintendent Des Bray has been quoted as saying that Integrity Care staff and directors would not answer 'the simplest of questions'. My questions to the minister are:

1. What state government-related services has Integrity Care provided since the death of Annie Smith five months ago?

2. What advice has the minister sought and received that the state government has no power whatsoever to shut down Integrity Care over the last five months?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (16:12): I thank the honourable member for his question. Like many people who would have seen the news report and heard the comments from Inspector Des Bray in relation to his comments today about Integrity Care, we would all be concerned about his comments that key personnel within that organisation have not been cooperating with the police.

It's certainly something that I would urge anybody who is in that position to cooperate with the police, and that is indeed something that the Department of Human Services certainly did very early on. In fact, as soon as we were aware of the death and the horrific circumstances of Ann Marie Smith, the Department of Human Services fully cooperated with the police, and indeed the Quality and Safeguards Commission in their operations, both in terms of their investigations and so forth.

The Quality and Safeguards Commission has issued a ban to Integrity Care and its registration was revoked on 21 August 2020. My advice is that the Department of Human Services has no current contracts with Integrity Care and has made no payments to Integrity Care since November 2018. It's advised to all South Australian HACC-funded services that they cannot subcontract state government-funded services without permission. We have not found any records granting current permission to subcontract to Integrity Care.

I am also advised that Department of Human Services-funded providers who previously used Integrity Care have advised that they no longer do so. As this matter is still subject to police investigations, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.