House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-07-24 Daily Xml

Contents

CHILD PROTECTION

Mr PISONI (Unley) (14:20): Supplementary question: was the undercover police source present on the bus full of children being driven interstate and was the undercover police source monitoring the alleged sex offender's activities at night?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Finance, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:21): When I became aware of the existence of the email via the media that the member for Unley did last night, a member of my staff contacted SAPOL. At no time had SAPOL been made aware of that particular email. This morning they interviewed the individual who passed the email on to the member for Unley. We have established that the email was received on 6 July. In my calculation that makes it 18 days, not two weeks; so, the member for Unley has been sitting on this email for 18 days.

Mr PISONI: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Police will be seated.

Mr PISONI: I refer to the substance of the question. The question was about a bus trip that happened in November last year.

The SPEAKER: That appears to be another obstructive point of order, which is just used as an opportunity by the member for Unley to make an impromptu speech. Accordingly, I warn him for the first time. The Minister for Police may now continue.

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: SAPOL are at their initial stages of investigation. I think there are other individuals who they would like to interview, because there may be a potential breach of parole conditions that was not identified or conveyed to SAPOL, which potentially could have put young children at risk. Investigations are continuing. I think this house at some stage needs an explanation from the member for Unley as to why this information was not conveyed to SAPOL in a timely manner and, more specifically, was the Leader of the Opposition made aware?

The Hon. I.F. Evans: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Police will wind up, and that should wind up the member for Davenport as well.