House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-11-29 Daily Xml

Contents

CHILD PROTECTION

Mr PISONI (Unley) (14:56): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Why has the minister written to me with regard to allegations of sexual abuse in schools asking 'refer to her office any details of concerns' rather than referring them directly to SA Police in the first instance?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development) (14:57): You are being very mischievous, Madam Speaker. I believe the—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr GARDNER: Point of order: Madam Speaker, I have not seen you being mischievous at all today.

The SPEAKER: I think the minister needs to be very careful how she words her answer. I wish I had been mischievous.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I do beg your pardon. The member for Unley, I believe, is referring to a letter that was given to him this week where I asked him, if he had any concerns in relation to any outstanding cases that I may not be aware of, in the interests of the protection and care of our children, to provide that information to me so that we could resolve them as expeditiously as possible.