Youth Death, Port Lincoln

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:33): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Human Services, representing the child protection minister the Hon. Rachel Sanderson and the Premier as the minister responsible for Indigenous affairs, about the tragic death of a youth in Port Lincoln today.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: A 13-year-old boy was crushed to death by a garbage truck in Port Lincoln after it emptied a large rubbish bin in which he and two friends were sleeping. We, as a community, should be shocked and appalled that three children, whom I understand were Indigenous, had to find shelter in a rubbish bin. I understand the boys had been under the care of the Aboriginal Family Support Service for some time. My questions to the ministers are:

1. Why were these children not in any shelter or government care at the time of this shocking tragedy?

2. What has the department done to ensure their safety and wellbeing?

3. Where are the other two boys now being cared for, and why were they not able to return to their families?

4. Had the department previously contacted the deceased child's mother or family in relation to his safety or wellbeing at any time, including last night, and if so when?

5. When did the service provider become aware that these three children were on the streets and not in secure accommodation? What did they do and when did they do it?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:35): I thank the honourable member for his question. I think it is fair to say that there is a deal of opinion in some of his questions, which I think is potentially unhelpful. It is indeed a tragedy that this situation has happened in Port Lincoln and that a child has died.

The matter is a matter which is subject to a police investigation. All agencies involved are cooperating in this. As I will state again and again in relation to these individual matters, particularly where someone is in the child protection system, there are very specific statutory clauses which prevent anybody who is involved in these cases from commenting publicly, as also applies, indeed, if anybody is in the youth justice system.

So I will couch that in those terms. These are matters which are before SAPOL and investigations will take place, and therefore I am unable to make any comment.