The Government’s let slip there’s been a budget blowout in child protection.
Treasurer Rob Lucas has confessed:
“a number of agencies in particular Health and Child Protection .. Child Protection because we just have significantly more young people needing to be protected so it’s no fault of that particular agency they have not been able to meet their targets.”
ABC Radio, 29 May 2019
This is the first time the Government has publicly announced the Department of Child Protection has blown its budget.
The number of children in state care hit a record 3909 on 31 March 2019 – up a whopping 9.1% in just one year.
The rate of growth of children in care has skyrocketed since Rachel Sanderson took over a year ago. The yearly rate of increase was previously trending down.
In Estimates last year Rachel Sanderson stated she would restrict the growth rate to around 3%. Under her stewardship it’s increased more three times her target.
Quotes attributed to Shadow Minister for Child Protection Jayne Stinson
A budget blowout has occurred because under Rachel Sanderson there’s has been a rapid acceleration in the number of children coming into state care.
Almost 4000 children are now in care – that’s up more than 9% in just a year.
In Opposition, the Liberals repeatedly attacked budget overruns in child protection – yet in Government they won’t hold themselves to the same standard.
Rachel Sanderson needs to reveal the extent of the budget blowout and what services will be axed to pay for her mismanagement and broken promises.
The Liberals promised to reduce the number of children in state care and eliminate budget blowouts in child protection. They have done neither. It’s yet another broken promise.