Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens' Leader and Human Services spokesperson
Premier Will Hodgman yesterday used weasel words to suggest his government would in fact not be implementing and funding all seven of the Commissioner for Children and Young People's recommendations, directly contradicting his Minister for Human Services.
While the Minister stated that all recommendations would be implemented and, "where additional funding is required, this will be progressed as part of the Budget process", the Premier later only committed his government to, "considering all recommendations and doing so in the context of future budgets."
After the Safe Pathways scandal and evidence the State neglected children in its care, this is a completely unacceptable response from the Premier.
The children and young people in the care of the State deserve better. They deserve to be given a voice, to have enforceable standards in place, regular monitoring, independent oversight of their arrangements in care and access to justice.
Right now, they don't have these protections as the Commissioner for Children and Young People made plain in his report.
With the child protection and out of home care system under intense pressure, exposing vulnerable children and young people to potentially greater risk of harm, the Commissioner for Children's seven recommendations must be implemented and funded as a matter of urgency.