LNP remains a policy-free zone

The LNP has today again tried to dupe Queenslanders by releasing a discussion paper but still no clear policies or ideas on child safety.

Minister for Child Safety, Phil Reeves, said the LNP couldn’t even get its facts and figures right.

Minister for Child Safety Phil Reeves said this was a slap in the face to Queensland families and Child Safety staff, further highlighting the LNP’s disinterest in helping to keep Queensland’s children safe.

“It’s been four years now since the LNP plagiarised the Victorian Labor Party's Building Stronger Communities policy and tried to pass it off as their own”, Mr Reeves said.

“We are still waiting for anything of substance on Child Safety, because a discussion paper is not a policy.

“The LNP is a policy free zone.

“While the Bligh Government delivered $3 million for extra front line staff in this year’s budget, all the LNP could do was a three page discussion paper.”

Drawing attention to the LNP discussion paper, Mr Reeves pointed out that the leader of the Opposition had invented several figures for his own political convenience.

“The paper states that ‘Compared with larger states such as NSW and Victoria, Queensland had the largest number of children under protection orders in 2008/09’,” Mr Reeves said.

“If the LNP bothered to review the current Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Child protection report they would clearly see that Queensland had almost half the number of child protection orders than NSW in 2008/09.

“This goes to show they might be the best funded Opposition in history but they are still the laziest.

“We make no apology for ensuring that Queensland’s children and young people have a safe place to grow up in.

“In fact, through independent monitoring by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian, we know more than 98% of children in care report they feel safe in their placement.”

Mr Reeves said this year’s Child Safety Budget of $695 million includes a strong focus on early intervention and prevention.

“Clearly the LNP do not understand the commitment made by this government to provide early intervention and prevention services for children and families in need,” he said.

“I released details earlier this month of $55 million that has been allocated over the next four years to the new Helping Out Families initiative – an early intervention and prevention pilot that further complements our existing services.

“We also invest in other early intervention and prevention services such as Family Intervention Services, Referral for Active Intervention, Counselling Services, Intensive Family Support, Drug and Alcohol support, Domestic Violence support.”

There are currently 50 family intervention services funded which provide support for up to 1,700 Queensland families

Also, Community Services’ Referral for Active Intervention program is providing intensive family support to more than 1,085 families in 11 locations across Queensland.

These services include teaching parents skills that relieve stress, family conflict and anxiety, how to manage anger, budget, prepare healthy meals, establish routines and set guidelines in the home.

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