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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-06-22 Daily Xml
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CHILD'S DEATH

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (14:53): My question is for the Minister for Families and Communities. Why was the minister able to make a statement to the media and the parliament on 9 June regarding the five-year-old boy who tragically died in the housing trust home on Wednesday 8 June, but the minister now says that she cannot comment on her department's involvement with that boy and his family?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (14:54): I refer the member for Bragg to the statement that I made on that particular day, and—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: I said that I had received some initial information from the agencies under my control and that I was seeking further information, that I had asked for a detailed assessment of the processes undertaken and whether the actions taken were appropriate considering the information they had. I said I was keen to identify if there were any gaps in how this family was dealt with, or whether there are any difficulties in the protocols for handling such cases and, if there are, we will fix them. That is what I said on 9 June, and what I have said consistently since that time—

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: —is exactly the same: the details in relation to this case, I have been told that if I talk about them I could interfere with the case that is before the courts currently. This matter will come under intense scrutiny internally, through the Department for Families and Communities. It will, I am sure, come under the intense scrutiny of the Coroner, once the court case is finished, and it will come under the intense scrutiny of the Child Death and Serious Injury Review Committee.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Taylor.

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