Review reveals reporting ‘failure’ in SA govt handling of child sexual abuse cases

A report into how an SA minister went unaware of the distressing cases of two 13-year-old girls impregnated by paedophiles has been made public.

The inquiry into the child protection department’s handling of two 13-year-old who were impregnated by paedophiles has been released. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

The South Australian government has accepted all recommendations made in a recent inquiry into how the Child Protection Department handled the sexual abuse of two teenagers in state care.

The inquiry was launched last year after two separate incidents in which 13-year-old girls were impregnated and sexually abused by paedophiles.

Child Protection Minister Rachel Sanderson said she wasn't made aware of either incident, instead finding out through the media when two men were sentenced.

In September, Matthew McIntyre, 35, was sentenced to three years and nine months in jail for impregnating and sexually abusing a 13-year-old.

In December, Philip Edwin McIntosh was sentenced to six years and three months for maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a girl aged 13 or 14, who was pregnant at the time to a different man.

Following the incidents, Ms Sanderson announced the inquiry, which was conducted by former Judge Paul Rice and made public on Tuesday.

Premier Steven Marshall, Attorney-General Vickie Chapman and Minister Rachel Sanderson addressed the Rice Review on Tuesday. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Mr Rice found Ms Sanderson “significantly failed” to clearly tell her department she wanted to be informed of serious sexual abuse cases, despite publicly claiming that she would be informed.

“It was crucial for the minister to tell the department that she wanted to know about the serious sexual abuse of children under guardianship. This was a significant failure on the minister’s part,” the report read.

Ms Sanderson said she regularly met with her chief executive and had made her expectations “abundantly clear”.

“I do now receive reports of all incidents and … most of the cases regarding children in care are the reason they came into care,” she said.

Ms Sanderson could not publicly guarantee there were no other similar incidents or assaults but said she trusted the reporting she now receives.

“We know there was a significant incident policy. It was not followed. There was a failure to follow that policy.

“As Judge Rice (found), it was ambiguous, unclear, difficult to read and in this case, the staff were not aware of the policy.

“That’s why we’re working with the Office of Public Sector Employment to make sure that the education process is rolled out.”

The Rice Report found Ms Sanderson “significantly failed” to clearly tell her department she wanted to be informed of serious sexual abuse cases. Picture: Kelly Barnes/AAP

Mr Rice made six recommendations, including the chief executive developing instructions and guidance to ensure the minister and senior department officers were advised of any alleged serious criminal act against a child as soon as possible.

Another recommendation was for the minister to advise the chief executive in writing what events she wants to be informed about.

Premier Steven Marshall said the state government was “going further” by establishing a critical incidents reporting unit within the department.

He said the report highlighted that there was “still work to be done” within the department, despite “significant improvements” made over the past three years since the Liberals entered government.

“There were critical, significant incidents which occurred within this department that were not escalated to the chief executive or to the minister,” Mr Marshall said.

“This is of great concern. It is completely unacceptable and that’s why we have accepted these recommendations.”

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman also committed to introducing legislation to parliament within 30 days to implement the changes.

While there are laws against harbouring a child, she said the current penalties were found by the report to be “inadequate” and should be increased to three years imprisonment for a first offence and four years for a subsequent offence.

Opposition child protection spokeswoman Katrine Hildyard has called for Ms Sanderson to be sacked.

She said it was “beyond belief” Ms Sanderson made repeated public statements that she would be informed by her department but never gave those instructions.

“ (Ms) Sanderson is clearly out of her depth, and for the sake of children in state care she must be replaced,” Ms Hildyard said.