Almost a week after the revelation of disturbing detail that more than 120 Tasmanian children were reported at potential risk but did not receive immediate help, Children and Youth Minister Sarah Courtney is yet to provide details for critical unanswered questions.
Shadow Child Safety Minister Sarah Lovell said the Minister needed to provide assurances that the 121 children in “active transition” were receiving help and that workers in the child safety system had been provided the resources to provide that help.
“It’s extremely concerning that Ms Courtney’s own data shows that many Tasmanian children are in active transition – that is reported at risk of danger and referred for investigation but not immediately allocated a case worker – and the number continues to grow,” Ms Lovell said.
“That number of children has more than doubled over the past year on Ms Courtney’s watch.
“The Gutwein Government and this Minister need to demonstrate to Tasmanians that they understand these are children – not just numbers – and show that they are acting to address this alarming situation and this alarming trend.
“Has she at least checked with her own department that these children have now been visited by case workers?
“Has she provided case workers in her department with the adequate resources to ensure they are able to undertake necessary investigations?
“If not, why not?
“Ms Courtney seems to be too preoccupied with spending her time on pointless politicking to pay attention to her important key responsibilities.
“The job undertaken by child safety officers is among the most difficult and confronting undertaken by those at the frontline and they must be given the resources to do that job.
“And the safety of children should be Ms Courtney’s first priority.
“It’s not enough for her and her colleagues to continually front Tasmanians and read from prepared scripts telling them what they intend to do because, as we all know, this government has made an art form of making big promises but failing to deliver.
“It’s not enough for Ms Courtney to dump such alarming information into the public arena and then hide from crucial questions.
“Ms Courtney must answer these questions today.”
Sarah Lovell MLC
Shadow Minister for Child Safety
