Latest figures reveal there’s been a 35% increase in the number of children entering emergency care since Rachel Sanderson became the Minister for Child Protection.
The figures cover the first two full years of the Liberal government and show the number of children in emergency housing has risen to 130.
The figures also reveal a jump of almost 20% in the overall number of children in care, breaking the Minister’s promise to halve the rate of increase by now.
There are now 4270 children in state care, according to official Department of Child Protection statistics.
Emergency care (also known as commercial care) includes rental houses and units and is intended as temporary accommodation, until children can reunite with their families or be placed in long term foster or kinship care. It is widely regarded as the least desirable form of residential care.
Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Child Protection Jayne Stinson
Rachel Sanderson promised to decrease the number of little ones coming into state care. Instead it’s rocketed to a record high.
Rachel Sanderson promised fewer than ten children would be in emergency care by April last year. A year later, and the figure is still rapidly growing.
The Minister must explain what’s going wrong for her and why she can’t stick to the promises she’s made to reduce the number of little lives coming into care.
These aren’t just numbers on a page. These are real little children who’ve experience horrible things. They deserve a Minister who has a plan for their futures.