- The Crisafulli Government will deliver critical child safety reform with an Inquiry into the Labor Government's failures of the Blue Card Child Protection System.
- The Inquiry delivers on a key 100 Day Plan commitment and will hear from Queensland families directly impacted by convicted paedophile Ashley Paul Griffith.
- Inquiry will be led by QFCC Child Death Review Board Chair, Luke Twyford
The Crisafulli Government has launched a major inquiry into the failures of the Blue Card Child Protection system under Labor, delivering on a key election commitment within its first 100 days in office.
The inquiry will be undertaken by the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) Child Death Review Board, with the Terms of Reference focused on system responses to child sexual abuse, including those that failed to protect children from convicted paedophile Ashley Paul Griffith.
Under the leadership of Child Death Review Board Chairperson Luke Twyford, the inquiry will identify weaknesses in laws, policies, procedures and practices, across early childhood education and care, police, and blue card systems.
Premier David Crisafulli said the Inquiry would uncover system failings and deliver recommendations needed to improve Queensland's child protection system framework.
"This Inquiry is what is needed to bring child protection weaknesses into the light and protect children from the danger lurking in the shadows," Premier Crisafulli said.
"When parents drop their children off at childcare or school, they want to know that everything is being done to protect their kids.
"We must leave no stone unturned in identifying weaknesses across government that are failing keeping children safe and implement the reform that's urgently needed."
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Deb Frecklington said she was committed to improving the system, to ensure perpetrators were identified and children at risk were protected.
"We promised in opposition to launch this critical review within 100 days if elected – Queenslanders deserve answers they never received under the former Labor government," Ms Frecklington said.
"I want to thank the Board for undertaking this work, and I look forward to receiving their final report later this year."
Child Death Review Board Chairperson Luke Twyford said he welcomed the opportunity to lead the review, examining one of the most horrific cases of child sexual exploitation reported in Australia.
"I am committed to working closely with government agencies and community organisations to identify the gaps in the system that enabled this opportunity for harm, analyse the system response, and identify the improvements needed," Mr Twyford said.
"The review will include input from experts and victims of child sexual exploitation to ensure our review is carried out to the highest standards and considers contemporary child safeguarding practices.
"Our findings will be released publicly, and we will release public progress reports throughout the review period to ensure transparency and to provide the public with confidence in the process," he said.
The Terms of Reference for the System Response to Child Sexual Abuse have been endorsed by the Child Death Review Board and work will start immediately.
The Terms of Reference are available at www.qfcc.qld.gov.au
