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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-09-25 Daily Xml
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Question Time

CHILD PROTECTION

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:08): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Can the minister confirm that, on 26 May this year, parents of the southern suburbs school alleged sexual assault victim lodged a complaint with the Parent Complaint Unit about the failure of a teacher to comply with mandatory reporting requirements under the Child Protection Act?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:08): I told the house yesterday that on 26 May the family wrote to the Parent Complaint Unit and also copied my office into that correspondence. There were a couple of issues that the parents raised in that correspondence. Essentially, they raised the issue of a mandatory report notice briefly in the letter. They also spoke about the Child Abuse Report Line and some delay that they had experienced in making a report to the Child Abuse Report Line, but the majority of the concern in that letter was about the delay in an arrest being made in relation to the person who has allegedly abused their daughter.

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is called to order.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: The investigation had started in March and, as of 26 May, no arrest had yet been made. The family said in this correspondence, 'My family and I would be very grateful for assistance in having this matter addressed as a matter of urgency.' They express some concern about the impact the investigation was having on their daughter, understandably, and waiting to find out what the outcome was. They obviously wanted this person arrested because with arrest would come bail conditions and protection for their daughter in not being approached by this person.

I have to say that I am concerned about this young woman. Obviously, she is under enormous stress. It's an incredibly stressful process for anyone to go through, let alone a school-aged child. The parents have expressed concern about her wellbeing. She will be required, I am assuming, to give evidence in court, and now circumstances around this case are being raised in a public forum like this which, I think, can only add to the pressure that she must be feeling and the parents must be feeling.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: So, I would urge this house to take some concern and caution around this matter. It's due to go to court next week, and so I don't want to be in a position where I say anything that jeopardises the court, that jeopardises anything that witnesses may be providing and adds additional pressure to this young woman and her family.

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