State still not doing checks on NZ crims

THE State Government is still not running New Zealand criminal checks on Blue Card applicants, despite it being recommended two years ago by a review in the wake of Tiahleigh Palmer’s murder.

The Queensland Family and Child Commission’s Blue Card review recommended NZ criminal history checks be required for applicants who disclosed they had lived there for six months or more.

It also recommended applicants be required to disclose convictions and charges in other countries and that the Government work with the Commonwealth to share international criminal histories.

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said that implementing those recommendations was “in progress”.

“Government is currently exploring appropriate models for accessing and assessing this information,” she said.

Ms D’Ath said there were complexities, including around accessing, validating and interpreting information, dealing with privacy rules and processing applications by asylum seekers or refugees.

In May, she told Parliament that if NZ checks were run for just 15 per cent of applicants under a full online application scheme, costs would go from $40.6 million to $60.3 million – an extra $20 million – over 15 years. That was based purely on the cost of a criminal history check, not additional processing costs.

Twelve-year-old Tiahleigh Palmer was murdered in 2015 at Logan by her foster father Rick Thorburn, who held a Blue Card, despite an extensive criminal history.

Bravehearts founder Hetty Johnston said these important matters should be dealt with by the Parliament in a united way.

“Cost shouldn’t stand in the way,” she said.

Ms D’Ath said Blue Card Services could liaise now with police if they had information showing a Blue Card holder had an international criminal history.