HANSARD
SITTING CALENDAR
SEARCH
LIVE BROADCAST
Hansard Dynamic Member Index
Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-06-04 Daily Xml
Contents
Pdf Xml

Question Time

Human Services Screening Unit

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Human Services a question about disability services.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: When asked about disability careworker screenings in one particular media interview, the minister said all of the following, in this order: 'I can't comment on those sorts of details', 'I can't comment', 'I don’t have that information', 'That's a rather inappropriate question', 'I'm not going to talk about screening' and 'I'm not going to respond to this line of questioning'. Minister:

1. Why exactly do you refuse to answer media questions about the screening process of workers who are not under police investigation?

2. Since the death of Ann Marie Smith, how many screening applications have been received from Integrity Care?

3. In the two years before the death of Ann Marie Smith, how many screening applications were received by your department from Integrity Care?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:23): I thank the honourable member for his question. As I stated in recent weeks in relation to a question about whether the state government was cooperating in relation to any investigations into Integrity Care, the emphatic answer was, 'Yes, absolutely. We are.' There are several investigations taking place specifically into the circumstances of Ann Marie Smith's terrible death. That is through SA Police, and we expect a coronial inquest as well.

We do know that there is an independent inquiry, which is to be conducted by Alan Robertson SC. In addition, the federal regulator, the Quality and Safeguards Commission, is also undertaking various investigations, and the screening unit is working very closely with the federal regulator and the South Australian police. As such, I am unable to provide any details of those investigations.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED
ABOUT PARLIAMENT
VISIT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
CONTACT