Queensland's commission of inquiry into child safety has wrapped up after months of hearings, with commissioner Paul Anastassiou KC stating he hopes the system will be refocused on children's welfare with less talk and more action. The final report is expected to be delivered to the government on Friday.
Submissions to the inquiry detailed how complaints about the treatment of children were ignored. An NDIS carer reported witnessing staff hitting and grooming children, and said her concerns fell on deaf ears. She described seeing a worker hit a girl in the head, hold her tightly, and display a screensaver of a bruised baby with a leg in a cast.
Another submission from a child safety worker alleged that a staff member held a door closed while disabled boys tried to escape, and that children were placed in a bath with faeces. The worker said she no longer works at the facility.
Young people formerly in state care also shared their experiences. One woman, using the pseudonym Laverne, said she reported sexual abuse by her stepfather at age 16, but police and child safety failed to act. She was told to apply for a Domestic Violence Order herself, but was then informed only police or child safety could do so.
Commissioner Anastassiou noted that this is not Queensland's first inquiry into child protection, and that previous failures were not due to a lack of recommendations. He referenced a submission from the Cape York Institute that characterized reform attempts as 'death by a thousand consultations'. The commissioner said he hopes the system will prioritize the best interests of the 12,500 children in care.
