Child safety legislation reform

Child protection inquiry 2003

The Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) conducted a public inquiry into abuse of children in foster care in August 2003. The CMC invited members of the community, professionals and community groups to prepare written submissions for the Inquiry and called public hearings that commenced on 8 October 2003.

The State Government and the Department of Families, responsible for child protection in Queensland at that time fully supported these activities.

CMC public hearings

• Opening statement, Minister for Families (CMC public hearing) (PDF, 38 KB)
• Closing statement, Minister for Familiies (CMC public hearing) (PDF, 26 KB)

• Queensland Government submission to the CMC inquiry into the abuse of children in foster care in Queensland (PDF, 197 KB)

CMC report

• Protecting children: an inquiry into abuse of children in foster care

Foster carer audit

• Final report on phase one of the audit of foster carers subject to child protection notifications (PDF, 641 KB) - compiled by Gwen Murray.

Ombudsman's report on Baby Kate

An investigation into the adequacy of the actions of certain government agencies in relation to the safety, well being and care of the late baby Kate, who died aged ten weeks.

• Queensland Ombudsman investigative reports

Legislation reforms 2004 - 2006

The legislation changes are a result of the recommendations of the 2004 Crime and Misconduct Commission report for child protection reform.

These changes were implemented in three stages from 2004 to 2006 and dealt with a range of matters including:

• Child Guardian's functions and powers
• Community Visitor Program
• Children Services Tribunal's jurisdiction
• child death case reviews
• case planning
• responses to an unborn child notification
• mandatory reporting by nurses
• Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) teams
• information sharing between departments, agencies and non-government organisations
• assessment and approval of carers.

Further amendments were made after stage three of the legislation reforms via the Child Safety (Carers) Amendment Act 2006 to introduce the requirement that carers, and relevant persons associated with licensed residential facilities and shared family care services hold blue cards.