House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-02-05 Daily Xml

Contents

CHILD PROTECTION

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (15:21): My question is to the Minister for Families and Communities. Does the state or Families SA have a duty of care to children generally and specifically to those in the care of the minister?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Northern Suburbs, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (15:22): It is a very curious question—

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: It is a curious question that the member for Davenport asks. Obviously, the state does have responsibility for children in its care. We have the Children's Protection Act. This government has taken responsibility for child protection incredibly seriously. As I have said on many occasions, we have the largest ever injection of funds into child protection in this state. We are keen to work with families in order to strengthen families so that we do not have as many children coming into care, as is currently the case.