The Palaszczuk Labor Government had failed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with the latest December child safety data showing the system had stalled under a do-nothing, secretive Labor Government.
Shadow Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multicultural Affairs Steve Minnikin said the number of cases of suspected abuse of indigenous children had grown significantly.
“In 12 months more than 1,200 children were reported by police, teachers and members of the community for suspected abuse,” Mr Minnikin said.
“We have seen more than 5,400 substantiated claims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, as well as cases of neglect which is far too high.”
Mr Minnikin said the December 2016 data showed a record number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children placed in care.
“More than 40 per cent are being taken away from their families and sadly it is continuing to grow,” he said.
“We are running the risk of these children losing their Indigenous culture. We need to remember that behind every statistic is a child in care that needs to be looked after.”
Mr Minnikin said the Palaszczuk Government and the Minister for Child Safety Shannon Fentiman were not only failing to protect Queensland children, but also putting child safety staff in highly stressful situations.
"Labor's Child Safety Department is in disarray and is imploding fast,” he said.
"The crisis and growing backlogs engulfing child safety investigations are nothing short of a scandal.
“It was the LNP that invested a record $406 million in the child safety system and it was the LNP that boosted child safety officer numbers by 77 in 2014.
“Only the LNP will build a better Queensland by building stronger families.”
