1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:03,320 Speaker 1: Child protection has been in the news over the last 2 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: couple of weeks and the Minister, Katrine Hillyard was under fire, 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:11,959 Speaker 1: under heavy fire for taking holidays commencing. Now those holidays, 4 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: as I understand, that have been deferred Katrin Hillyard, the 5 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:17,079 Speaker 1: Minister is on the line. 6 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 2: Minister, good morning, Good morning Matthew, and good morning to 7 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 2: your listeners. 8 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: Was it the intense pressure that led you to cancel 9 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 1: your holidays? 10 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,319 Speaker 2: Of course not, Matthew. I make decisions about lee with 11 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 2: my family. I've shortened and delayed my plans leave. I'm 12 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 2: totally focused on the task at hand, had more I 13 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 2: wanted to get done before going, and I'll get away 14 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,919 Speaker 2: at some point in the time period I had allocated. Matthew, 15 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 2: I am viscerally committed to working to improve help improve 16 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 2: the lives of children and young people, to help transform 17 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 2: the child's protection and family support system. I'm not going 18 00:00:57,080 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 2: to be distracted by untrue, unfair, find things petty politics 19 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 2: that the opposition runs around. 20 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 1: You think, well, is it petty politics? I mean, normally 21 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: people don't cancel leave. There's always something you could be 22 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 1: doing and not taking your leave unless you make the 23 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: time to take your leave. And you had done that, 24 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 1: you'd put in for the time off, and you say 25 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 1: petty politics, minister. But is it petty politics when three 26 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,199 Speaker 1: quarters of calls go unanswered? 27 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 2: Matthew. Anybody who knows me knows that I work around 28 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 2: the clock. I am. What I mean when I say 29 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 2: petty politics is that I am getting on with the 30 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 2: task at hand and I won't be distracted by the 31 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 2: opposition playing political games. I've asked them many times to 32 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 2: be involved in transforming the system, and they've refuse that 33 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 2: offer reputedly. But this is. 34 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: Political games when you don't have enough staff to answer 35 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: the phone. So people ringing an abuse home lines, well 36 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: figure show that though, don't they. 37 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 2: Matthew, That is absolutely not true. The figures that they 38 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 2: went out with last week were utterly false. The liberals 39 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,519 Speaker 2: claim last week that wait times in May twenty twenty 40 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 2: four were at their highest duration since twenty seventeen eighteen 41 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 2: is a blatant lie. Some of the longest call wait times, 42 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 2: I'm advised since twenty seven eighteen. We're in August twenty nineteen, 43 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 2: when the wait time was seventeen minutes in four seconds. 44 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 2: In October twenty nineteen, when the wait time was twenty 45 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 2: minutes and forty nine seconds. In May twenty twenty four, 46 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 2: the wait time was fifteen minutes and thirty three seconds. 47 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 2: What I can also tell you, Matthew, is that in 48 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 2: twenty nineteen twenty, this is these are facts, there is data, 49 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 2: there is evidence on these facts. In twenty nineteen twenty, 50 00:02:54,320 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 2: the yearly average weight was fifteen minutes and twenty two seconds. 51 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 2: That that wait time is now down to eleven minutes, 52 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:07,359 Speaker 2: And the other thing the Liberals are not telling people, Matthew, 53 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 2: is that for any unanswered calls, what we now have 54 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 2: in place is a system where callers are encouraged if 55 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 2: they are on the line to make an e report 56 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 2: or to use the callback function, and most of those 57 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 2: callers use that, So I am not going to be 58 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 2: distracted by their lives. 59 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 1: How many people would hang up while they're on hold 60 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: for whether it's eleven minutes, fifteen or seventeen, and I 61 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: don't think there's a lot of difference between fifteen and seventeen. 62 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: And I also reckon if you're ringing an abuse hotline 63 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: and being put on hold, it's akin to ringing lifeline 64 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: and being put on hold. 65 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 2: So what I can tell you Matthew is that one 66 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 2: in three children in South Australia are notified to the 67 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 2: child protection and family support system at some point in 68 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 2: during the course of their childhood. What we have now 69 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 2: in place are more staff and more careers who are 70 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 2: responding to the needs of those children. We are focused 71 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 2: utterly focused in two ways, Matthew. We are focused on 72 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 2: supporting and strengthening the increasing number of families who are 73 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 2: facing really difficult and complex issues domestic violence, poverty, mental 74 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 2: ill health, intergenerational trauma. And we are focused on those 75 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 2: children who are already in care. So for those children 76 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 2: who are already in care, we have invested nine million 77 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 2: dollars on post care support to help break the cycle 78 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 2: of contact with the system. We have funded the Children 79 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:47,919 Speaker 2: Young Person's Visitor. When we first came to government we 80 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 2: funded one point eight seven million dollars for the Children 81 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:54,679 Speaker 2: and Young Person's Visitor and in the most recent budget 82 00:04:55,080 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 2: we also invested an additional four point five million dollars 83 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 2: to support children already in care. 84 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 1: Minister, more staff were doing. 85 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 2: We have more staff, more staff. 86 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 1: But where's your deputy director? Where's the department's deputy director gone? Minister? 87 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 1: Where where is Adam Riley. Why you cancel holidays? Why 88 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 1: doesn't he. 89 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:21,600 Speaker 2: More staff and more terrors since this time last year? 90 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,359 Speaker 1: Okay, now tell me about Adam Riley. Where's he gone? 91 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 1: You've canceled your leave as deputy director. Shouldn't he be 92 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 1: there taking some of this seat? 93 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 2: If I can just finish making the point first of all, Matthew, 94 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,479 Speaker 2: that we've invested four hundred and fifty million dollars into 95 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:40,719 Speaker 2: the system. One of the ways we're strengthening families is 96 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 2: through our investment in family group conferencing. We see ninety 97 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:50,719 Speaker 2: two percent of families successfully stay together post a family 98 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 2: group conference. None of this work is easy, Matthew, None 99 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 2: of it and that is why I am absolutely focused. 100 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 2: It is why I continue to focus on the complex 101 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 2: issues family space, but also focus on how we can 102 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:14,039 Speaker 2: best support children already in care. I cannot stop every 103 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 2: single thing that terrible people out there do, but I 104 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 2: can absolutely keep going with our investments which are delivering results. 105 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:28,280 Speaker 1: Hey, do you want to tell me about Adam Riley now? 106 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:28,839 Speaker 1: Where he is? 107 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:31,840 Speaker 2: Yees. The Liberals can run around and say that they're 108 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 2: not delivering results, but that is not true. That Dartus 109 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 2: speaks for itself. What I can tell you, as I 110 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 2: did to the media last week, Adam Riley is currently 111 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 2: on a period of lead. That is a matter for 112 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:54,040 Speaker 2: Jackie Bray, the CEO of the Department for Child Protection. 113 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 2: We of course have an acting Deputy Chief Executive in place, 114 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:05,280 Speaker 2: and that whole team is a team of highly experienced executives. 115 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 2: I will continue to focus on the changes that we 116 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 2: are making. We have several announcements that are being made 117 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 2: this week, and we will continue to focus on the 118 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 2: complex issues family space and how we con strengthen those 119 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 2: families through leveraging our investment in things like family group conferencing, 120 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 2: the establishment of the Aboriginal Peak Body for Children and Families. 121 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 2: We will continue to deliver on those improvements in staffing numbers. 122 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 2: We are releasing our workforce development strategy that has been 123 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 2: worked on by the entire Sexor. We will continue to 124 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 2: make sure that we keep growing those staffing numbers as 125 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 2: we have done. 126 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 1: But Minister, coming back to the point, if you've canceled 127 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: your leave because things need to be done, why doesn't he. 128 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 2: I've delayed my lead, So why doesn't he I've delayed 129 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 2: and shortened my lead, And why doesn't he my family 130 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 2: make together. Of course, of course, Matthew. As I said, 131 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 2: Adam Miley is currently on a period of the staffing 132 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 2: matters for the Chief Executive of the Department for Child Protection. 133 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 2: I will keep focusing on the complex issues at hand. 134 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:35,079 Speaker 2: I am never going to be distracted by the Liberals 135 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 2: running around saying unfair, untrue and unkind things. I will 136 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 2: keep focusing. I'll keep listening to children, young people. 137 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:48,200 Speaker 1: The Liberals aren't responsible for people falling, girls falling pregnant 138 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 1: within the system. They're not responsible for calls not being answered. 139 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: That comes down to the department, Matthew. 140 00:08:54,679 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 2: What I can say is that unfortunately, eleven percent of 141 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 2: girls here in Australia are subject to some form of 142 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 2: sexual abuse before day turned fifteen eighty. 143 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 1: And that's terrible, that's absolutely terrible. But the fact that 144 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: happens while they're in care that makes it worse. 145 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:18,679 Speaker 2: And that is why we are doing all sorts of things. 146 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 2: This is not a new problem, Matthew. This problem has 147 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 2: been the case for decades. The difference now is that 148 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 2: we have a minister who knows what is going on, 149 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,080 Speaker 2: makes it her business to know what is going on. 150 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 2: The previous minister wasn't even aware of these issues. Instead, 151 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 2: we have in place a range of programs to support 152 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 2: children and young people in care. As a government, we 153 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 2: have strengthened legislation to deal with repeat sex offenders. We 154 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 2: have funded the Guardian to have oversights of children and 155 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 2: young people in care. These issues happened under the Liberal government. 156 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 2: The difference is we are getting on, absolutely getting on 157 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 2: with investing in change and making change. We make it 158 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 2: our business to know what is going on. 159 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:14,079 Speaker 1: Okay, I mean you say they've been going on for decades, 160 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: so they have. Indeed for that, they've been going on 161 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: for decades, not just over four years, just gone. But 162 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 1: you talk about the complex issues at hand, Minister. That 163 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 1: is the great and the fact you've had to cancel 164 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: leave to your defer leave to come back to deal 165 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: with these issues. It's the biggest argument for having a 166 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: standalone portfolio in this area, isn't it, Minister mass. 167 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 2: Anybody who knows me knows how hard I work. I 168 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 2: don't doubt that throughout my life has taken very little leave. 169 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: But that doesn't answer the question should it be a 170 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 1: standalone portfolio? Given the issues are so complex. 171 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 2: What I can tell you Matthew, is this first of all, 172 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 2: in relation to the portfolio of domestic, family and sexual 173 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 2: violence prevention. Eighty percent of people who are children and 174 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:07,680 Speaker 2: young people who are in contact with the child protection 175 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 2: and family support system, eighty percent of them have a 176 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 2: domestic violence element to their case. But eighty percent of 177 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 2: those children and young people have domestic violence sadly as 178 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 2: a feature of what is going on in their lives. 179 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 2: In relation to thought and recreation, what I can also 180 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 2: tell you is this, It was my experience as a child, 181 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 2: the experience of many young people who have a difficult 182 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 2: time that when they are engaged in community sport, in 183 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 2: those amazing clubs with brilliant volunteers that are there to 184 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 2: look out for people, look after them, have eyes seeing 185 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 2: what's happening for them, include them, give them that sense 186 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 2: of belonging that they're not alone. Those children and young 187 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 2: people are more likely to thrive. We are working for 188 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:04,960 Speaker 2: we thought to make sure that there are improved opportunities 189 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 2: for some of the most vulnerable, disengaged young people to 190 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 2: have those opportunities. That is a good thing, Matthew, That 191 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:16,679 Speaker 2: is a good thing. We want children to be safe. 192 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 2: We also want them to have those equal opportunities to thrive, 193 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 2: to be engaged in their local clubs, to have a 194 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,559 Speaker 2: quach she looked out for them, to have that sense 195 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 2: of community family. That is a really important thing and 196 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,680 Speaker 2: that is what we are also working on. There are many, 197 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 2: many programs that we are developing to make sure there 198 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 2: are those improved opportunities for children and young people to participate. 199 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 1: Minister, you're feeling the pressure obviously, the censure motion against you, 200 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 1: calls for you to resign, calls for the ministry to 201 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 1: the portfolio is to be split, so just a single 202 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 1: minister looking after child protection. Should you remain in the post? 203 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 2: Absolutely, Matthew, Why should you us? Because I am making change, 204 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:11,200 Speaker 2: We are delivering change, and I am utterly determined. I 205 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 2: can't tell you enough. 206 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 1: But it's gone backwards, Minister, delivering change is going in 207 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 1: the wrong direction. 208 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 2: I know that is not true. That is absolutely not true. 209 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 2: We are seeing a reduction in the trend in terms 210 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 2: of the growth of children a numbers of children care. 211 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 2: We are seeing a reduction in that we are seeing 212 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 2: more cares, we are seeing more stuff, we have more 213 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 2: money in the system. We are beginning to see change. 214 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 2: We are seeing change when I say that, of course 215 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 2: there is more to do. But I cannot tell you enough, Matthew, 216 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 2: how much I will never be distracted by those who 217 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 2: speak to politicize these issues rather than getting on board 218 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 2: and working together, because at the end of the day, 219 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 2: we need everybody working to make change for children and families. 220 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 2: So they can run around and say all these things, 221 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:03,960 Speaker 2: these untrue things. I will get on with the job. 222 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:08,199 Speaker 2: I will not. I will never be deterred from doing so. 223 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 2: I am viscerally determined to make change. We have already 224 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 2: made change, and we will keep making positive change. 225 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: Well, Minister, I'll look forward to speaking with you later 226 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: in the week following your announcements in child protection. Thank you, 227 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 1: thank you very much for your time.