Xenophon calls for Debelle inquiry to be reopened

The South Australian Government is being attacked on another front to re-open the Debelle inquiry into school sex abuse.

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has entered the fray on behalf of another angry mother who claims her concerns were fobbed off.

An 11-year-old boy was viciously sexually assaulted by another student in 2010.

Nick Xenophon said the child’s mother’s concerns were noted by Justice Debelle in his report, but she wasn’t allowed to give evidence.

It was outside the inquiry’s terms of reference, but Mr Xenophon claims it has opened a new can of worms.

It appears her original complaint was not passed on to then-Minister Jay Weatherill.

“It involves a ministerial liaison officer who was the person she spoke to, she’s not satisfied with the response,” Mr Xenophon said.

The Opposition leader Steven Marshall has promised a wider inquiry if elected to power.

He said there again appears to be an email trail that was covered up.

“Unfortunately, the emails in the minister’s offices were completely and utterly wiped,” Mr Marshall said.

The Government quashed Mr Xenophon’s demand for the Debelle inquiry to be reopened, even before his press conference.

“Mr Debelle has made it clear to this person that they had fully explained their position to his satisfaction,” Attorney-General John Rau said.

The sex case issue has now reached a new political nastiness, with the Attorney-General firing the first shot.

“Makes me think we must be getting close to a Federal election,” Mr Rau said.

Senator Nick Xenophon responded with: “John Rau should be ashamed of himself for making that sort of ridiculous petty statement. I’m acting as advocate for this woman who has been to hell and back.”