SA child protection chief resigns after misleading minister about abuse case
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Version 0 of 1. The deputy head of South Australia's child protection department has resigned after revealing he inadvertently misled the government about a Families SA worker charged with abusing seven children. The Department of Education and Child Development deputy chief executive, David Waterford, said he accidentally provided inaccurate briefings to the child development minister, Jennifer Rankine, because he had failed to read a key document. "I believe that as a consequence, the minister made certain statements that were inaccurate," Waterford said in a statement on Monday. It was not clear what information was inaccurate as the government says it cannot comment on the specifics of the case because of a suppression order. Waterford said he had tendered his resignation as soon as he realised he had provided inaccurate information and that he had not been asked to step down. On Friday Rankine said she could not confirm a newspaper report that the charged worker was previously investigated for alleged inappropriate behaviour involving a female toddler in his care. The newspaper said the 32-year-old man was stood down while an internal inquiry was undertaken, but was cleared to resume work with children. The minister and Waterford both previously indicated there had been no previous suspicions about the man. |