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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-12-01 Daily Xml
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CHILD'S DEATH

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (15:20): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Will the minister now confirm what action her department took when a child abuse notification was made by the Women's and Children's Hospital to Families SA in respect of the four-month old baby who died at Brooklyn Park last month?

Previously (in fact, on 23 November 2011), the minister refused to answer a number of questions about her department's involvement with the four month old who had died, citing that the matter was under investigation and that she would not compromise the case. However, in response to questioning on radio earlier this week about the bashing of a young boy at a public school last week, the minister said, 'Schools understand they need to call the police. Well, it didn't occur in this case.' Notwithstanding that, at that time that boy had been charged with assault prior to the minister going on radio and therefore the matter was already under investigation.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. I think that explanation was somewhat long-winded to that question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development) (15:21): It didn't actually make any sense, Madam Speaker. I maintain—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: —my position that I made clear in this place when we met last, and that is that I am acting on advice in relation to the tragedy that has occurred in relation to the four-month old child who died. I will not do anything that impedes that investigation. In relation to the other matter, a very separate matter, yes, of course, I have been very clear from the beginning that the school should have called the police. There are a number of explanations as to why that did not occur. I am very clear about this. They should have called the police.

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