Labor’s embattled Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman must stop “washing” child safety data and release the latest official report card for Queensland’s child protection system almost four months since the September 30 cut-off.
Shadow Child Safety Minister Ros Bates said the Palaszczuk Government was notoriously slow when it came to releasing child safety data, but Queenslanders deserved to know the true state of our Child Safety Department.
“In the past, Shannon Fentiman has tried everything to delay the release of these figures but now is not the time for political games,” Ms Bates said.
“We know from the leaked October 2016 data almost 4000 cases of suspected child abuse across the state are stuck in processing backlogs and thousands of abuse reports are not being actioned in time.
“Shannon Fentiman can try and spin the new data any way she likes, there is no escaping the fact our system is in crisis and nothing will change until this Minister goes.
“With more children at harm due to drug-addicted parents, we need a system that is able to protect them and right now, the system can’t.
“We don’t need more ‘washed’ data from this bumbling Minister - we need the cold, hard facts.”
Ms Bates said the June data showed 13,279 investigations or 65 per cent of all cases were not started in required timeframes.
“More than 400 cases requiring an urgent 24-hour response were missed, meaning 400 children were left unseen in potentially dangerous situations and abusive homes,” she said.
“Shannon Fentiman needs to come clean to Queenslanders and release the latest child safety data now.”
