Key facts
- A teenager was allegedly raped by a staff member at a state-funded residential care home west of Brisbane.
- The alleged assault occurred on August 20.
- Child safety minister Amanda Camm confirmed the investigation and stated zero tolerance for abuse of vulnerable children.
- A commission of inquiry found about 67% of reported sexual exploitation in state care involves children in residential care.
- The government is implementing reforms and has committed $200 million to child protection.
- A bill to establish the Queensland Protection Commission will be introduced to parliament, aiming for a 2027 launch.
A teenager, understood to be intellectually impaired, was allegedly raped by a staff member at a state-funded residential care home west of Brisbane on August 20. Queensland's child safety minister, Amanda Camm, confirmed the incident is under investigation and expressed zero tolerance for abuse, particularly concerning vulnerable children in care.
Camm highlighted that approximately 67% of reported sexual exploitation within the state care system involves children in residential care, deeming this figure unacceptable. The government is responding to a child safety inquiry's findings by implementing reforms, accepting 32 out of 52 recommendations and allocating $200 million over 30 months to enhance child protection.
In parallel, a bill to establish the Queensland Protection Commission, described as a "nation-leading" safeguarding agency for children and vulnerable individuals, will be introduced to parliament. Attorney general Deb Frecklington stated the commission aims to consolidate child protection measures and push back against predators, with a target launch in early 2027. This initiative follows a Child Death Review Board report that identified missed opportunities to prevent the actions of a notorious paedophile, Ashley Paul Griffith.