Disability Services

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:16): 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. J.E. HANSON: On numerous occasions in this place the minister has outlined the important role of the Incident Management Unit within her department. On 4 June, she advised the council:

The IMU has responsibility for triaging and determining appropriate response to all allegations of inappropriate care…This includes incidents that occur within accommodation services and the youth justice training centre…The IMU is also responsible for investigating matters relating to DHS by the Independent Commissioner against Corruption for matters of misconduct or maladministration. The IMU also has a coordination role in relation to the National Redress Scheme.

My questions to the minister are:

1. How many staff are currently employed in the IMU?

2. How many of those staff are in acting positions?

3. Has the funding or staff allocation to that unit decreased since the election of the Marshall Liberal government?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:18): I thank the honourable member for his question. The exact number of staff who are employed in the Incident Management Unit is not a detail I have before me, but I can advise that—and I think I may have referred to this previously in response to questions—we have a director who is a SAPOL officer on leave without pay from SAPOL.

We have another member who is a former SAPOL officer, two who are former SAPOL officers from other jurisdictions, two solicitors and several staff have completed qualifications in government investigations. I think that demonstrates that we do have a range of staff with appropriate qualifications to lead this important area to improve safety and responses to any incidents.

I will take on notice the question in relation to the staffing levels, previous and current, and bring back a more detailed response.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hanson, a supplementary.