More children are now in costly commercial care than when the Liberals were elected - despite Minister Rachel Sanderson promising a dramatic reduction.
On 31 March 2018 there were 96 children in commercial care.
New figures released by the Department of Child Protection show on 31 May 2019 there were 101 children in state care.
The Minister previously backed a commitment by her Chief Executive to reduce the number of children in state care to just ten by May 2018 – a deadline long passed.
Commercial care, also known as emergency care, is provided at a private rental property and is staffed by carers 24 hours a day. Previously hotel rooms were also used but that practice was ended under Labor.
Based on data from the Office of the Auditor-General, the cost of commercial care per child averages $784 000 a year. Commercial care is widely regarded as the least desirable form of care for vulnerable children.
There are now 3963 children in state care. That’s a rise of 380 children since March last year.
Quotes attributed to Shadow Minister for Child Protection Jayne Stinson
Why does the Minister make promises if she can’t keep them? She’s letting down people who can least afford to be let down.
This is the latest in a string of failures and broken promises for this Minister.
Yet again the Minister has failed to deliver on her own promises in child protection.
While that’s embarrassing for her it’s devastating for children in care.
The Minister promised to reduce the number of children in commercial care to just
10. It’s now 101 – that’s more than when she was put in charge.
So far the Minister has:
Failed to arrest the rate of children coming into care to 3% a year as she promised – instead it’s three times that.
Failed to recruit 50 foster carers above attrition who are available to care for children. She’s recruited just 30 in twelve months. The previous year under Labor it was 92.
Failed to reduce the number of children in residential care by 50 as she promised
Failed to reduce the number of children in commercial care to 10. It’s still over 100.
Failed to award a tender for a new NGO-based financial counselling service. It was never publicly advertised.
Cut 115 full-time employees and axed over $20.8 million from her own Department this financial year.