Child Protection

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:54): I seek leave to deliver a brief explanation before asking the Attorney-General a question about child protection.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Given the concerns raised about children absconding from residential child protection services, has the Attorney-General been briefed about legislative options which could be implemented to prevent children from leaving these properties?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:54): I thank the honourable member for her question. Very strictly, the responsibility for child protection rests with the Minister for Child Protection in another place, the member for Reynell, the Hon. Katrine Hildyard. I will have to check. I don't recall a specific briefing that was solely about legislative options in relation to people absconding from state care, but I am happy to check and see if there is anything that has come across my desk in relation to that issue at all.