South Australia’s most vulnerable children deserve a government response better than that which is being delivered by the Labor Government.
Premier Peter Malinauskas today referred to the Department of Child Protection as the “ambulance at the bottom of the cliff”.
The Opposition today asked a series of questions of the Premier and his struggling Child Protection Minister, Katrine Hildyard in the wake of the death of a three-year-old girl at Whyalla, who had been the subject of DCP report.
The toddler died in May and Freedom of Information documents reveal the department lodged a “significant incident” report. The death has been referred to the South Australian Coroner.
Minister Hildyard has refused to publicly release information about the case.
Shadow Minister for Child Protection, Josh Teague said the government was not being transparent about the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death and called on the Minister to reveal details.
“South Australians have little confidence in the government’s ability to care for vulnerable infants and children,” said Mr Teague.
“We need to know what has gone on so we can test the department’s capacity and the Minister’s capacity to look after these vulnerable children.
“Stonewalling by the Minister is not good enough.
Mr Teague said it could take more than six years for the Coroner to release information about the girl’s death, if it decided to hold an inquest.
“It’s not good enough to have to wait many, many years before the South Australian community can be informed.
“If changes to systems and processes need to be made to protect our most vulnerable children we need to do so swiftly, not wait for years.
“How many more children will come to harm, or worse, before this Labor Government accepts the need to be transparent with the people of South Australia.
Shadow Assistant Minister for Child Protection, Hon. Laura Henderson MLC called on the Minister to advise whether there was a suppression or confidentiality order in place that prevents her from being transparent about this tragic death.
“The Government preaches to be committed to transparency, but their behaviour indicates otherwise.
“If there is a suppression or confidentiality order that prevents the Minister from being able to declare details, she should acknowledge this. Otherwise, the Minister should be transparent about what has occurred.
“It simply isn’t good enough that the Minister refuses to tell South Australians what is going on.”
