At the start of Child Protection Week the Opposition is encouraging the Palaszczuk Government to be open and transparent about the true state of the child safety system in Queensland.
This issue can be confronting but it is really important we are frank about the challenges we are facing because we need real solutions. Young lives are depending on it.
In the last reported 12 months, 53 children died who were known to Child Safety.
If you’re a child known to the child safety system in Queensland, compared to a child outside the system you are:
The number of children in care is growing by the day. At 31 March, the number had swelled to 11,299 children in the care of the state.
While we’ve had 1,546 families step up to be foster carers for the first time, we also lost 1,360 families who gave up being foster carers in the 12 months to 31 March 2022.
As of 4 August, there were 1,660 investigations into the situations of at-risk children not yet finalised in South East Queensland, and 522 of them had been open for over 100 days – missing the department’s own guidelines.
Shadow Minister for Child Safety Amanda Camm said she wants children to be safe in our state, but sadly some of our most vulnerable are being left unprotected by the system that should be keeping them safe.
“I’ve spoken to foster carers, parents, staff and ex-staff around our state. They agree our system is broken,” Ms Camm said.
“There is growing evidence children who have been abused are being reunited with their alleged abusers with few questions asked. The number of times I’ve spoken to carers who have reported injuries and evidence of abuse only to be told the situation doesn’t reach the ‘threshold of concern’ is horrifying.
“Foster carers are being treated terribly. They are not heard, not respected, not brought into the conversation and they have little avenue for recourse.
“Even when complaints are raised with the Minister by carers, the Minister refers it back to the office the complaint was made about. Foster carers end up having to sit in the room with the individual their complaint related to, feeling intimidated and powerless.
“The Palaszczuk Government must start listening and prioritising the safety of children.
"The Child Protection Act is there for the sake of the child, not to be used as a shield by the Palaszczuk Government.”
