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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-09-21 Daily Xml
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Child Protection

Ms SANDERSON (Adelaide) (14:05): My question is again to the Minister for Child Protection Reform. Is the minister comfortable that about 84 per cent of the 5,408 screened-in notifications received in the Elizabeth office are being closed with no action, leaving potentially 4,542 children in danger?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for Consumer and Business Services, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:06): I am not aware of whether the member's arithmetic is correct, but I think it has been stated in this place, both by me and by the minister, that it is a fact acknowledged also, I think, in the royal commission report that one of the problems we have at the moment is that a large number of what are otherwise described as 'tier 2' matters do not actually find their way into a circumstance where they are actioned, and that is not okay. We have never said anything other than it is not okay, and the royal commission says it is not okay.

That is one of the reasons why serious reform in this area is necessary. It is why we are taking all the steps we are now taking in relation to this matter. It is why we had royal commissioner Nyland look at the matter. It is why she has made some 260-odd recommendations. It is why we have accepted so far 38 of them. It is why we have three bills presently in the parliament, and we intend to proceed in an orderly way to work our way through the rest of the recommendations. We want to be in a position where, first of all, if possible, we are able to intervene in these families where children might potentially be at risk to give them enough support so that the things do not deteriorate.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: If that is not possible, we want to get in there and deal with the situation as soon as possible. So, the short answer again to the question as to whether or not tier 2s not being reached and dealt with is okay: no, it's not okay.

Mr Gardner: Hasn't been for 14 years.

The SPEAKER: I call to order the members for Hartley and Morialta, and I warn for the first time the member for Morialta.

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