Vulnerable Children

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON (15:09): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs about vulnerable children.

Leave granted.

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON: The Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, April Lawrie, has released the findings of an inquiry which reveals half of all Aboriginal children in South Australia are reported to the Department for Child Protection during their childhood. One of the recommendations to come out of that report is investing more in early support services and Aboriginal-run organisations. My questions to the minister are:

1. What services are currently being delivered to help reduce the rate of Indigenous children in care, and does the minister believe they are working sufficiently?

2. What is the minister doing in his capacity as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs to ensure fewer Indigenous children are ending up known to DCP?

3. Can the minister advise what new initiatives he has introduced as Aboriginal affairs minister since coming to government to work to tackle these unacceptably high rates?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for her question. I can give some general comments and I can take much of that on notice. The minister responsible for child protection is the Hon. Katrine Hildyard, the member for Reynell, in another place. There was quite a lot that was said about the report that the honourable member mentions in a ministerial statement from Minister Hildyard that the Hon. Clare Scriven tabled yesterday.

As the honourable member alluded to her in the question, as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs I obviously take a keen interest in my colleague's area of child protection given the over-representation of Aboriginal children in the area. I know Minister Hildyard is very appreciative of the work that Commissioner Lawrie has done and for her dedication and commitment in providing the report. I know that Minister Hildyard is now having a look at that very thorough report and its recommendations and will respond accordingly.

In relation to some of the other aspects of the question, I am more than happy to take them on notice and bring back a reply about the various increased levels of funding, programs and specific actions.