School abuse 'slap' irks

A MOTHER who fought for information on the rape of a child has criticised the South Australian government's suspension of a staffer.

A MOTHER who fought with South Australia's Education Department to tell parents about the rape of a child has criticised the state Labor government's decision to suspend a staffer over suspected leaking while advisers who failed to notify now-Premier Jay Weatherill of the 2010 abuse case had received a "slap on the wrist".

The person suspected of leaking a policy-release schedule had been identified as Mary-Lou Corcoran -- the daughter of former Labor premier Des Corcoran -- who has been suspended from her duties as an adviser in Mr Weatherill's office during an investigation.

Danyse Soester, whose two-year campaign to allow parents to learn of the Adelaide school sex-abuse case sparked the Debelle royal commission, said she was outraged such action was taken while two advisers to Mr Weatherill had largely escaped punishment for not telling him about the matter when he was education minister.

"I'm sure it insults every victim that's out there. It's as simple as that," Ms Soester said yesterday. "Accountability should be held by every employee."

Mr Weatherill, who did not comment yesterday, has said he counselled the two staffers, his chief of staff Simon Blewett and education adviser Jadynne Harvey, after they were criticised by former Supreme Court justice Bruce Debelle over failure to inform the then minister.