Drug testing for parents to keep kids safe

Parents will be required to undergo drug testing for any Intervention with Parental Agreement– in particular for ice or methamphetamine – if they want to keep their children, under a new Palaszczuk Government plan.

Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman said where there is any suspicion of drug use, parents who consent to an Intervention with Parental Agreement (IPA) with the Department of Child Safety will also be subject to mandatory drug testing.

The measure comes after a high number of cases where drug use – in particular of ice – was found to be undermining the efforts of Child Safety Officer to work with families to keep kids safe.

“This is a zero tolerance measure that puts the safety of children first and foremost,” Ms Fentiman said.

“We know the availability and use of ice, is a problem right across Queensland.

“It presents a real challenge to our Child Safety Officers when it comes to making an assessment about whether or not parents are up to the job of looking after their children.

“That’s why parents will have to agree to random drug-testing as a precondition for entering into an IPA.

“This is about keeping kids safe. If mum and dad aren’t up to the job because they are using drugs, we will take action.”

Ms Fentiman said there were currently 1937 children subject to an IPA, where parents agree to work with Child Safety to ensure their children are safely cared for.

“As I travel the length and breadth of Queensland, hard-working child safety staff are telling me that more and more families are using ice and it is impacting on the family’s ability to keep the kids safe,” Ms Fentiman said.

“In fact, over the past eight years, the number of families staff work with who have a problem with drugs or alcohol has increased from 47 per cent to 65 per cent.

“We know drug and ice use is a symptom of a wider problem in our communities, however we hope that by taking strong action we will prompt parents to change their behaviour.

“The safety of children has to be our highest priority.”

Ms Fentiman said IPAs are entered in to when children are in need of protection, but where willing parents engage in safety planning and work with Child Safety to address any concerns.

She said children are only allowed to stay with their parents when it was safe to do so under an IPA and could still be placed in either foster care, or with other family members.

Ms Fentiman said the Palaszczuk Government’s record more than $1 billion investment in child and family services, including early intervention and prevention support, will give families a helping hand.

The Palaszczuk Government last year announced an extra $6 million to help combat ice addiction with support services designed to help families and communities.

Ms Fentiman said as part of the ongoing review of the Child Protection Act 1999, she was also looking at other areas where the Department should be able to compel a parent to undertake testing, treatment programs or even refrain from living at a particular address, to ensure a child’s safety.

To have your say on The next chapter in child protection legislation for Queensland: Options Paper visit the Get Involved website www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au.

Consultation closes on December 16.

Media contact: 0400 774 303