Confidence in the child safety system is at rock bottom under Labor following the release of the latest round of data.
Liberal National Party Leader Deb Frecklington said the new data makes for horrific reading with the Palaszczuk Government failing in key performance areas.
“These aren’t just numbers on a spread sheet – this is the child next door, a niece or nephew, your son or daughter’s classmate,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Behind these statistics are heartbreaking stories of children at risk and families shattered.
“More children are being forced to live away from home, more Queensland kids have child protection orders, and more are entering the child safety system.
“The LNP wants Queensland to be the safest place for children to grow up.
“We need real leadership to improve outcomes for our kids, but sadly we’ve still got a government that is refusing to face up to the damning problems their own data reveals.”
LNP Shadow Minister for Child Safety Stephen Bennett said the data showed the huge impact drugs and domestic and family violence was having on our children.
“With child safety figures this bad, it’s no wonder this information has come out four months late,” Mr Bennett said.
“Labor must acknowledge their failures in child safety and work to develop a department that is actually able to address these issues.”
Figures:
Queensland-wide
• There are more children being forced to live away from home, up 2.7 per cent from last year to 9,592.
o This is while more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are being taken away from their families and communities (only 43.7 per cent with kin/community down from 42.9 per cent last year).
• More children are subject to child protection orders, up 2.4 per cent from last year to 9,811.
o Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in particular are suffering, with an increase of 2.95 per cent from last year.
• Intakes have increased every quarter this year.
o Intakes up 2.5 per cent from last quarter. Up 8.94 per cent from last year.
• Children subject to substantiation has increased by 148 more children from last year to 5,799.
Key Figures (Regional)
• Admissions to court assessment orders:
o South West Qld – Court Assessment Orders up 23.17 per cent from last year (164 to 202).
o South East Qld – Court Assessment Orders up 14.67 per cent from last year (266 to 305).
• Children subject to ongoing intervention:
o North Coast – Total children up 5.41 per cent from last year (1,644 to 1,733)
o Far North Qld – Total children up 5.26 per cent from last year (1,254 to 1,320)
o Central Qld – Total children up 4.32 per cent from last year (1,830 to 1,909)
ENDS.
Sunday, 15 July 2018