The Liberal government’s lack of action on Tasmania’s dire Child Safety Services situation is on full display this week, with growing numbers of children at risk and planned industrial action during this week’s national Child Protection Week.
The latest dashboard data shows that after months of deterioration, the number of at-risk children not allocated a child safety officer in accepted timeframes has almost doubled – from 62 in June to 103 in July.
That is 103 children recognised as being at risk who are just being left without the help they need.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg, with frontline workers telling us around 350 more children have been left unallocated on the Advice and Referral Line, meaning even more children are at risk.
On top of that, child safety officers are taking industrial action again this week over under-staffing and under-funding of this critical service.
This is a last resort for an increasingly desperate workforce but these workers have run out of options as they try to protect our most vulnerable children without adequate staff or resources.
This government needs to get its priorities right, deliver sufficient funding and resources to run Child Safety Services properly and ensure the most vulnerable people in our society get the protection they deserve.
Sarah Lovell MLC
Shadow Minister for Child Safety
