Foster father accused of abuse
AN EDMONTON foster carer accused of sexually assaulting a young girl in his care will appear in court this morning.
The 41-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested and charged yesterday following a major joint investigation between Cairns’ Child Protection and Investigation Unit and Brisbanebased specialist child exploitation and abuse unit Taskforce Argos.
It is understood the man, who is a blue card holder, first came to the attention of authorities for allegedly accessing child pornography.
However, further investigations revealed he had allegedly committed child sex offences against a six-year-old girl in his care.
The Cairns Post understands there were other children in his care at the time, but there are no allegations regarding those children.
The man will appear in Cairns Magistrates Court this morning facing nine charges.
These include three counts of indecent treatment of a child, two counts of possession of child exploitation material and one count each of disobeying a lawful order, using a carriage service to access child pornography, using a carriage service to make available child pornography and possession of dangerous drugs.
His arrest comes just days after the State Government announced a review into the foster care system following the alleged murder of Brisbane schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer.
The 14-year-old was allegedly killed by her foster father Rick Thorburn last year.
Child Safety Commissioner Cheryl Vardon said the review would examine foster care approvals and blue card services.
“The blue card system as it stands now is not broken,” she said earlier this week.
“We need to improve it, we need to look at categories, we need to look at a whole range of things.”
A Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services spokesman said the safety of foster children was the department’s first priority.
“Any allegations of child sexual abuse or exploitation are absolutely abhorrent and extremely disturbing,” he said.
“In all cases like this the department will take immediate action as soon as concerns are raised by police.
“The safety of children is our number one priority, including their removal from the foster home where necessary.
“The Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services is unable to comment on this specific case as it is before the courts.
“The department cooperates fully with police in relation to alleged criminal activities by foster carers or alleged crimes against children in care.”