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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-07-23 Daily Xml
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CHILD PROTECTION INQUIRY

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:22): My supplementary is again to the Premier: given the fact that both he and the former minister for education (the member for Hartley) were the subject of the Debelle inquiry, or certainly part of that inquiry, why is it appropriate that the Premier exempt himself from the cabinet deliberations but not the former minister for education?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:22): I didn't acknowledge that she had not exempted herself; I frankly can't remember. Secondly, it is completely irrelevant; she was not the subject of the inquiry. What was being inquired into was the fact that there were two sources of advice: some advice from the Police agency and some advice from the Education agency.

That inconsistency was the matter that was being inquired into. The inquiry itself found that she had taken all appropriate steps and had not behaved in any manner that was the subject of criticism. I think those opposite need to maintain a little bit of consistency about the Debelle inquiry. Did they decide that they support the findings of the inquiry, or don't they support the findings of the inquiry. When it suits them—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: When it suits them—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: When it suits them—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Premier, would you be seated? I warn the member for Heysen for the first time, and I warn the member for Hammond for the first time. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Thank you, Mr Speaker. They are content to cast doubt on the findings of the inquiry, but the findings of the inquiry that I was a witness of truth, that my staff members were witnesses of truth, get no attention from those opposite, because they want to cast doubt on the essential findings. I know they are disappointed that they didn't get what they wanted out of this inquiry, so they want to have a further royal commission, so they—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: You had a finding by a royal commissioner, and it is utterly inappropriate to cast doubt on the integrity of that finding. We have never done that. We are the ones that established this inquiry. I know those opposite suggested that this was an unnecessary inquiry; we believed it was necessary, and it has provided a very strong road map for us to provide the reforms that are necessary for this system.

Mr MARSHALL: Sir, can the Premier—as a supplementary—

The SPEAKER: Is the leader looking for a fourth supplementary?

Mr MARSHALL: Correct.

The SPEAKER: No, I think you will have to await the next question. Member for Ramsay.

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