Vulnerable children abandoned by Gutwein government

Tasmanian Labor

The Gutwein government has left vulnerable Tasmanians and their families to fend for themselves when what they desperately need is more support.

In October last year, one of the young people participating in the Many Colours, 1 Direction program run by Allan Brahminy had to be collected from the Northern Territory by their mother.

Mr Brahminy had accidentally called a child safety worker and left a five-minute voicemail, capturing “a verbal exchange … which could be described as verbally abusive and aggressive” between Mr Brahminy and this young person.

Now, after several months of doing her best to support her teenage child, this young person’s mother is desperate for support for her family.

But instead of being offered that support, this mother has been asked to consider whether she wishes for Child Safety Services to continue their involvement with her family.

What possible justification is there for withdrawing this essential support service from a vulnerable young person and their family, particularly after such a traumatic experience?

Mr Jaensch has already failed to handle this situation when he held the Children and Youth portfolio last time, but now he’s been reinstated because of the chaos in Peter Gutwein’s Cabinet.

How can this young person’s mother and family have any faith that they will get the support they desperately need?

And, with replacement programs for Brahminy not set to be in place until at least the end of the year, what happens to other vulnerable young people and their families in the meantime?

Sarah Lovell MLC

Shadow Child Safety Minister

/Public Release. View in full here.