House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-12-03 Daily Xml

Contents

Question Time

Child Protection

Ms SANDERSON (Adelaide) (14:50): Supplementary: does the minister think it is appropriate for a driver, for whom Families SA do not have a copy of his police clearance and who has no training in child safety, to be left alone with a child who was pre-verbal on a 26-kilometre trip to return her to her mother who was allegedly intoxicated and verbally abusive?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Education and Child Development) (14:50): The circumstances in relation to Chloe Valentine, I think it is fair to say, have shocked all South Australians. She was a dear little girl who is no longer with us through clear acts of stupidity. The people who were responsible for her death are now in gaol.

We have a stringent regime around people who are licensed to operate chauffeured vehicles and also taxi vehicles. These people have to come from an accredited passenger vehicle service, whether it is a taxi bus or some other chauffeured vehicle. They need to have a valid DCSI working-with-children check, and the services that are contracted to Families SA are required by law to ensure all their drivers have the relevant clearances.

The SPEAKER: It has been drawn to my attention that I have previously ruled, and it is at page 366 of the 24th edition of Erskine May:

A supplementary question may refer only to the answer out of which it immediately arises, must relate to government responsibility, must not be read or be too long.

Henceforth, irrespective of what I or the member for Unley have said, or the member for Kaurna, that will be the rule. Member for Adelaide.