Queensland kids are being left in protection limbo, with matters concerning children subject to emergency orders not meeting prescribed time frames.
Shadow Minister for Child Safety and Youth Stephen Bennett said more children are now being put at unnecessary risk of harm due to the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s inaction on child safety reforms.
“Children who needed an emergency order for their safety and protection were failed when less than 79% of cases referred to the DCPL met the prescribed timeframe of no later than 24 hours before the emergency order ends,” Mr. Bennett said.
“Shockingly 93% of all children under Child Safety’s watch who needed an ongoing Child Protection Order to secure their safety and protection were failed as only around 7% of these matters made it to the Court process in time.
“Under the Palaszczuk Labor Government, the Department of Child Safety is a department in crisis.
“When emergency orders for child protection are consistently failing to meet prescribed timeframes, clearly action needs to be taken.
“We shouldn’t have to wait for another tragic and avoidable child death for this Palaszczuk Labor Government to start taking action on child safety.
"When it comes to the safety of Queensland's children, more must clearly be done.”
The Director Child Protection Litigation’s Annual Report 2017-18 https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Documents/TableOffice/TabledPapers/2018/5618T1959.pdf
Year on year comparison https://www.dcpl.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/570688/annual-report-2016-2017.pdf
