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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-10-28 Daily Xml
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Child Protection

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (15:09): My question is to the Premier. Premier, was the most recent incident of the sexual abuse of a child in care referred to the Significant Incident Reporting Unit? With your leave, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Ms HILDYARD: On 19 October 2021, a court heard details that a 16-year-old child in care was lured from their place of residence through an online dating app and sexually abused by Richard Ian Squires.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government) (15:10): I thank the member for the question, because it has been an important published circumstance in relation to conduct which has just been disgraceful and obviously it is a matter of concern in relation to any child who is the subject of illegal, criminal, disgraceful behaviour.

What I would say in relation to the unit is that it has been established, subsequent to the Rice inquiry and review of these matters. We have the unit. It's populated. That review was undertaken by my department or via my department and was to coordinate the oversight in relation to these matters and including the disclosure and reporting up to both the administrative head and minister in relation to these matters of child protection in respect of certain incidents.

I won't comment in relation to the particular incident that the member has referred to, other than to say we will make that inquiry as to whether there has been a referral, and what information we can provide to the house I will undertake to do so.

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