With today marking one year after the death of Mason Jett Lee, there has yet to be any change in the troubled child safety system under the tenancy of the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
Shadow Minister for Child Safety Ros Bates said child safety staff are still struggling to deal with mounting caseloads and no reprieve is in sight for at least two years.
“Labor’s embattled Minister for Child Safety couldn’t even acknowledge little Mason’s death at her pre-budget press conference,” Ms Bates said.
“We have seen a culture of secrecy and cover-up descend over the Department to shield this incompetent Minister.
“Since Mason’s death we have seen more shocking cases of systemic failure with at least two further child deaths, including a baby at Yeppoon, and more recently Maddilyn Stokes.
“At least one in five children known to child safety who died in the last 12 months committed suicide.
“Our child protection system is supposed to be protecting these kids.
“As I have travelled around the State visiting child safety centres it has become clear the backlogs that have plagued Caboolture are not confined to that area.
“Labor have forgotten little Mason and wants everyone else to forget how the system they presided over failed him.”
