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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-09-27 Daily Xml
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Working with Children Checks

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (14:36): My question is to the Minister for Human Services. Will the minister outline whether her recent explanation about who requires a working with children check appears to be different from the explanation she provided in 2019 and, if so, why? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr TEAGUE: On 7 September, the minister said, and I quote:

In terms of working with children clearances, these are really necessary when people are being left alone with children in an isolated capacity. They're actually not essential for all workers who do all jobs just in the presence of children.

On 2 May 2019, the then shadow minister said, and I quote:

The bill will also ensure that South Australians working with children, supervising people working with children or with access to data relating to children, including those volunteering, will be required to undertake a new DHS working with children check.

Her recent position appears to be very much watered down from her previous position.

The SPEAKER: The last part of introducing facts was in fact commentary, 'appears to be X, Y and Z'. However, I am going to allow the question and the purported facts.

The Hon. N.F. COOK (Hurtle Vale—Minister for Human Services) (14:37): I am advised that people who are left alone with children in the course of work or volunteering must have a working with children check. I stand by that explanation of what the requirements are under the act. I believe you are referring to part of a speech made in the course of debate as a shadow minister.

I am now a minister and I am subject to the advice of the department in full, and I am confident that where we are now is that all people left alone in the course of work or volunteering should secure a working with children check, but that doesn't discount that there are some places who offer alternate advice. In fact, some schools might insist to attend a school that they want you to have a working with children check, and people should take the advice. My response is accurate, and that is what I operate under.

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