Bid to hasten abuse probes
State lags nation in response times
CHILD Safety officers have requested an urgent meeting with Premier Peter Gutwein to address concerns highlighted by the latest Report on Government Services.
Figures released by the Productivity Commission indicate that Tasmania continues to lag the nation when responding to allegations of child abuse.
More than 80 per cent of reports took an entire month before being investigated in 201819 and more than 60 per cent took three months to be completed, Community and Public Sector Union assistant secretary Thirza White said.
“The Gutwein government has claimed that it’s new ‘front-door’ Advice and Referral Line and redesign of the Child Safety Service will fix the problem,” she said.
“Today’s report proves it isn’t working,” she said.
Union members have repeatedly raised concerns about chronic understaffing, poor recruitment and retention of Child Safety officers, and privatisation within the Child Safety Service.
Premier Peter Gutwein said he was waiting to be fully briefed on the figures but would “take that information into account”.
“I haven’t received a full briefing on the ROGS that are out today but I do understand in terms of the redesign of our child protection system and their program Safe Family, Safe Kids is that we’ve invested considerably more each year into that area.
“We recognise the importance of meeting our obligations in this particular area. Last year we increased funding by around 18 per cent. In fact, at the moment, in the budget is around $135 million being spent each year now in this area of child protection.”
Labor’s child safety spokesman Josh Willie said the Government was continuing to fail children.
“It’s taking too long to start investigations and too long to complete them,” he said.
“What that means is there are vulnerable children in potentially abusive or neglectful situations, waiting longer and longer for the child safety service to investigate a notification.”
Mr Willie said Mr Gutwein’s espoused compassion should start with child protection.
“The Government acknowledged a year ago that there were ‘areas for improvement’ but nothing has changed.”