House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-10-31 Daily Xml

Contents

Question Time

CHILD PROTECTION

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:33): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Will the minister table the advice which she referred to yesterday to the effect that SAPOL advised her department not to tell parents of the fact that a child was sexually abused at a western suburbs primary school?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development) (14:33): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for this important question. It is a good question, because the advice provided to me, which was of course the basis upon which I came into this place—advice provided to me in good faith and advice that I provided to this place in good faith—was very clear. I have asked the same question. I will get some advice in relation to the briefing that I was given so as to not divulge any information that may prejudice an ongoing investigation or reveal facts in relation to children in particular. I am very happy to provide that advice once I am satisfied that it is not going to adversely impact other investigations that I understand are ongoing or reveal details about children.