Key facts
- Vulnerable children have slept on the floor of public service offices in Queensland.
- Premier David Crisafulli confirmed the practice, stating it is used in emergencies when no other options are available.
- The Together union reported children slept overnight on air mattresses at child safety service centres.
- The union claims the practice is becoming more common and raised concerns with the government.
- Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm denied the practice has occurred since a commission of inquiry concluded, citing extreme circumstances for overnight refuge.
The Queensland government has acknowledged that vulnerable children have slept on the floor of public service offices due to pressures on the child protection system. Premier David Crisafulli confirmed the practice, stating it is typically a last resort in emergencies, often occurring in the early morning when no other placements are available.
These revelations follow reports that children were removed from their homes without alternative arrangements, leading to them sleeping on mattresses in government offices. The shadow treasurer, Shannon Fentiman, has called for an investigation into the department of child safety for potential breaches of its duty of care.
The Together union, representing public sector workers, stated that the practice is becoming more common. Assistant secretary Dee Spink reported instances of children sleeping on air mattresses at child safety service centres in Toowoomba and Ipswich West in recent months, attributing the increase to system strain and recent government changes.
Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm, however, denied that the practice has occurred since a commission of inquiry into the sector concluded. She stated that in extreme circumstances, supervised refuge is provided in child safety centres while stable accommodation is sourced, but insisted no children have been moved from residential care to these centres. Premier Crisafulli defended his minister, suggesting she is working to rectify a decade-old broken system.
Youth Advocacy Centre CEO Katherine Hayes described the practice as inappropriate and potentially traumatizing for vulnerable children, exacerbating their feelings of instability. Queensland currently has the largest number of children in out-of-home care in Australia, with 12,500 children in the system.