Staffing in child safety has been an ongoing issue under the Liberals, but new information provided to the Greens shows the situation has reached a desperate new low in recent weeks.
Two weeks ago in commission of inquiry response hearings, department staff presented information that showed 31 per cent of child safety officer positions across the combined north and north west were vacant.
Honourable Speaker, I rise to speak tonight about something that is very close to my heart, which is foster and kinship carers. Close to my heart because I am a foster carer and also because carers do amazing work. This week is Foster Care Week.
The Tasmanian Greens strongly support workers in the child safety system who are on strike today, and call on the Rockliff government to act on their concerns. Staffing in child safety has long been an issue, but things have become even worse in the last couple of years.
The latest reports from the Office of the Custodial Inspector reveals concerning ongoing reliance on lockdowns stemming from chronic staff shortages in Tasmania’s prisons and youth detention centre.
On 23 May this year, Premier Rockliff delivered a ministerial statement promising the parliament that 44 of the 48 Commission of Inquiry Phase 1 recommendations would be completed by 1 July.
In the wake of the independent Weiss Review into Paul Reynolds, the Rockliff Government must commit to strengthening the powers of the Integrity Commission in line with the report’s recommendations.
Was it not tremendous to hear the Premier's comments this morning about his concern on the melting glaciers? After all, climate change is one of the greatest threats to our young people, and I hope he cares as much about having healthy oceans.
The Greens welcome this opportunity to focus on young people and speak about the issues that matter to them, and particularly the vulnerable young people in Tasmania.
Our children are precious and they deserve all of our best efforts as parents, grandparents, families, carers, communities and as a government. Children have the right to be protected from violence and neglect.