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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-09-27 Daily Xml
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Child Protection

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (14:50): My question is to the Minister for Child Protection. When was the minister advised of a police investigation in respect of Charlie's death?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD (Reynell—Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:50): Thank you to the member for this question, which I think I have answered twice already. As previously advised to the shadow minister, on coming to government on having the honour of becoming the minister, I went expeditiously about a process to improve the notification procedures in relation to incidents relating to children and young people, incidents of concern.

I went around making sure that the notification procedure was significantly improved because, as I think everybody in this house at the time was, we were alarmed by the previous regime in relation to notification procedures, so I did go about improving it, and it has been improved. Now, as well as being notified within particular time frames about incidents, I am also notified in great detail about the supports that are being provided—

Mr TEAGUE: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Minister, I will hear the point of order from the member for Heysen.

Mr TEAGUE: Standing order 98(a) and in the context of the beginning of the minister's answer just now, this is the reason why the question has been asked on multiple occasions and not answered, including now, and I would ask you to—

The SPEAKER: Member for Heysen, I am listening carefully, but raising a point of order is not an opportunity for impromptu remarks on the merits of an answer to the house.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, one of the many things that I have improved about the notification procedure is that, as well as understanding when particular incidents of concern happen, I am also advised about a range of other factors relating to that particular incident.

I am advised first and foremost about whether the particular child or young person is safe, how they are being supported, what particular agencies are involved including both government departments and community agencies, and I am also now advised of that detail in relation to a range of incidents.

But the other thing that I have requested that is really important is a level of thematic reporting. Where, for instance, particular trends are emerging about incidents, I am notified of those. I am also notified perhaps when particular incidents may not meet that threshold. I will have thematic data about when and how those are occurring so that we can understand those patterns and adjust particular responses.

In relation to when I was advised about that particular matter, as I advised, I was advised on that Friday about the details of that matter, and I have answered this question several times in this house before. Also, I have spoken directly with you, when I invited you to a face-to-face briefing. I also spoke about these matters with the shadow minister and, as I have spoken about in this place before, I am committed to being very open, as far as I can be, about particular incidents.

But, of course, these matters are always very complex, they are multifaceted, and we must always be very cautious, particularly when police investigations are underway. We must always be very cautious—as the police commissioner also advised us to be—about what particular information is shared in relation to particular matters where police are involved in relation to incidents involving children and young people.

I will certainly continue to take that advice, and I will ensure, as I always do, that the safety and wellbeing of children and young people at the centre of any incidents are, of course, the primary consideration. One of the things I wanted to add to that is that—

The SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired. I am going to turn to the member for Davenport. The member for Davenport has the call.

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