Child Safety funding a top priority for Palaszczuk Government

The State Budget’s massive investments in new Child Safety staff have created a strong legacy of reform and improvements to the Child Safety system.

Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman said $200 million to employ almost 300 new Child Safety Staff, on top of 129 employed last financial year, showed the strength of the Government’s commitment to vulnerable children.

“The way in which a government constructs its budget is an ideal indicator of its priorities,” Ms Fentiman said.

“The Palaszczuk Government has clearly demonstrated where our priorities lie when it comes to supporting families and communities, with the biggest investment in new Child Safety staff in more than a decade.

“Although the opposition prefers to gloss over their legacy as they talk about these issues, their legacy of cuts is plain for all Queenslanders to see,” Ms Fentiman said.

Member for Clayfield Tim Nicholls, when he was Campbell Newman’s treasurer, cut $259 million from community organisation in Queensland.

This affected peak bodies like CREATE and Foster Care Queensland, as well as non-government partners that supported children in out-of-home care, recruited foster carers and worked side by side with Child Safety in communities around Queensland.

“The Member for Clayfield’s priority was to cut 225 permanent and 177 temporary Child Safety staff, this included 55 staff cut directly from Child Safety Service Centre,” Ms Fentiman said.

“It takes a special kind of leadership to think it is OK to cut funding to services that support families and keep children safe.

ENDS

Media Contact:          Inga Williams               0410 769 711