PREMIER STAYS MUM ON SCANDAL

Government silent amid calls for overhaul of Child Safety system following teen drugs shock

CHILD Safety Minister Di Farmer is refusing to reveal whether the Government will conduct a full review into children in care, following the explosive revelations a teen was dropped off at train stations by youth workers so he could “score” drugs off his mother.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk did not even respond to questions put to her by the

Bulletin. It comes as the State Opposition has called for a complete overhaul of Queensland’s Child Safety system after the Bulletin exclusively revealed that a 14-year-old child under the watch of the Department of Child Safety (DOCS) was being taken to a train station in Brisbane so he could travel to the Gold Coast and “score” drugs off his mother.

CHILD Safety Minister Di Farmer is refusing to reveal whether the State Government will conduct a full review into children in care, following the explosive revelations a teen was dropped off at train stations by youth workers so he could “score” drugs off his mother.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk did not respond to questions put to her by the Bulletin. It comes as the State Opposition has called for a complete overhaul of Queensland’s Child Safety system.

The Bulletin yesterday reported a 14-year-old child under the watch of the Department of Child Safety (DOCS) was being taken to a train station in Brisbane so he could travel to the Gold Coast and “score” drugs off his mother.

Explosive recordings, case notes and interviews from a child care whistleblower blew the lid on the situation after he was fired for revealing what was going on in an email sent to a DOCS worker.

The teenager was being cared for by employees of State Government contractor ProCare Australia, being supervised around the clock, costing taxpayers thousands of dollars a day. Ms Farmer said it was up to the organisations funded by the Government to deem how they spend the funding.

“When caring for children we require all funded service providers to deliver services in compliance with legislative and contract requirements, and standards of care under the Child Protection Act,” Ms Farmer said

When pressed by the Bulletin yesterday, the Government refused to say:

Whether they were investigating the case.

If the Premier and the Minister had heard the recording.

If more oversight is needed for organisations looking after children in the child safety system.

If the Government would conduct a review of the children in care system.

The exact dollar figure it costs taxpayers per year to house children staying in motels.

If they were satisfied the case had been handled well.

And how many other cases similar to the one revealed by the whistleblower have been investigated this year.

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said the Labor Government was more interested in protecting themselves than protecting kids.

“The Palaszczuk Labor Government cares more about protecting itself than protecting kids,” Ms Frecklington said.

“Labor’s chaotic system must be overhauled to ensure that child welfare is the priority, not profit margins.”

Ms Farmer said the department acted immediately after they became aware of what was going on.

“The safety of the children in our care is always our highest priority,” Ms Farmer said.

“As soon as child safety staff were made aware of the concerns in this particular case, they acted immediately to make sure the high standards of care expected were being met by the organisation in question, and the young person was safe and appropriately supported.”

She said it was up to ProCare to discipline their own staff.

“Disciplinary action taken by ProCare in relation to ProCare staff is a matter for ProCare.”