Vulnerable Children

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON (15:24): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General regarding vulnerable children.

Leave granted.

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON: In April 2022, the Deputy Coroner, Anthony Schapel, found the deaths of Amber Rigney and Korey Mitchell were preventable. The Advertiser reported on 22 April 2022 that he found that unlawful practices with the child protection authority had continued despite coronial findings in the cases of Chloe Valentine and Ebony Napier that identified those practices. The report also identified that the department did not report to police 'neglect in respect of children that's caused by criminal behaviour'. The report further states that:

…the failure of the Department to use section 20(2) of the Act has been the subject of coronial scrutiny and comment in the past…

And that:

…the Department continued to ignore the mandatory obligations contained in section 20(2) of the Act following the Valentine finding in particular is to be deplored.

The act that the Deputy Coroner was referring to, the Children's Protection Act 1993, was in place at the time of the deaths of Amber Rigney and Korey Mitchell. My question to the minister is: it has now been two years since the Deputy Coroner's report. What has the minister done, in his capacity as Attorney-General and a member of the cabinet, about the unlawful practices identified to be present in the child protection department?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:25): I thank the honourable member for her question. As the member outlined, the matters fall under the Department for Child Protection and the legislation the member has referred to is legislation that is administered by the Minister for Child Protection, the Hon. Katrine Hildyard.

Certainly, the safety of children in South Australia is a matter that I think we are all interested in and that we all feel as policymakers and legislators we have a responsibility for. I know that the minister who specifically has responsibility for the department and the legislation mentioned works very hard with her officials to make sure changes are put in place to keep children as safe as they can be.

In relation to the very specific questions on recommendations that have been made by the Coroner that are recommendations for the Minister for Child Protection, I am happy to seek some information from that minister and bring back a reply.