Child Safety inquiry to cost Qld taxpayers $40k a day

Queenslanders will pay more than $40,000 a day for an in-depth inquiry into the state’s child safety system, but Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm is certain it’s a cost worth bearing.

Minister for Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Amanda Camm and Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber. Photo: Supplied by the Office of the Premier

Queenslanders will pay more than $40,000 a day for an in-depth inquiry into the state’s child safety system.

Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm announced a Commission of Inquiry into the system on Sunday, revealing the 17-month inquiry will cost about $20 million.

The terms of reference for the inquiry – revealed on Monday – will put a microscope over the industry, including for-profit residential care providers, departmental governance, and analyse the previous Labor government’s procurement and contracting.

Former Labor ministers will be hauled into the witness box as part of the investigation, with Shadow Treasurer Shannon Fentiman calling on Ms Camm and Premier David Crisafulli not to use the inquiry “as a political pointscoring opportunity”.

In the government’s initial media release about the inquiry, “Labor” was mentioned 15 times.

When asked if there was any political motivation behind the inquiry, Ms Camm said the investigation went “to the heart of children”.

“As a government, we are corporate parents of these children, hand in hand. Ministerial accountability goes with that,” Ms Camm said.

“I don’t think any minister should be concerned if they have done their job to the highest standard and to their obligations, then they have nothing to worry about.”

The Queensland Government Commission of Inquiry into Child Safety will be led by Paul Anastassiou KC. Picture Supplied

The inquiry will be run by Paul Anastassiou, a Victorian Federal Judge who Ms Camm said will provide independence over the investigation.

The $20 million price tag includes Mr Anastassiou’s wage, set-up costs, support staff and IT systems.

Ms Camm said it was a worthy investment to understand how the $1.12 billion child safety system was failing the state’s kids.

“We know Commission of Inquiry’s are expensive, but we must act and we must make this investment.”

The inquiry – which will start in July – comes more than a decade after the Tim Carmody inquiry which recommended more than 100 changes to the child safety system.

Asked whether Queenslanders could have faith this expensive investigation would change anything, Ms Camm said it would ensure change for years to come.

“We have seen this system almost break with the lack of oversight, we have seen resi care blow out of proportion and the reliance on it.

“I think we owe it to those children and the next generation of children … that we design the best system we can to respond.”

Originally published as Child Safety inquiry to cost Qld taxpayers $40k a day