The Upper House Select Committee into Child Protection will meet for the first time today to organise its establishment and administration.
A motion put forward by Family First to establish a Select Committee to investigate matters raised by the Debelle Inquiry passed Parliament’s Upper House last week.
The Select Committee will consist of the Hon Robert Brokenshire MLC, the Hon Rob Lucas MLC, the Hon Stephen Wade MLC, the Hon Russell Wortley MLC and the Hon Kyam Maher MLC.
The Committee will meet for the first time today to discuss administrative issues, including when and how often they will meet. Given the urgency of this inquiry, Liberal Members will be supporting regular weekly meetings every Friday morning.
When discussing the Inquiry and whether or not he would appear if he was called as a witness, Mr Weatherill said:
“I’m not appearing before some circus in the Upper House.” (ABC, 09/09/13)
“It was Mr Weatherill who said that serious questions deserve serious answers,” said Shadow Health Minister Rob Lucas.
“Mr Weatherill has given no real justification as to why he will not attend the inquiry.
“Liberal Members will be moving for Mr Weatherill, Minister Portolesi and Minister Rankine to appear as witnesses before the Committee. In addition, Liberal Members believe ministerial advisers, such as Kate Baldock, should give evidence, together with IT experts from the public and private sector who can give evidence on the issue of deletion of emails from government computers.
“Justice Debelle’s report was a comprehensive and thorough investigation into the events surrounding the rape of a child at a western suburbs school.
“However, a number of serious questions emanating from the Inquiry now present themselves, which this Select Committee will investigate.”