Child Safety whistleblower allegations are ‘concerning’: Children and Youth Justice Minister

The Palaszczuk government has rushed its child safety department boss to Townsville amid shock allegations North Queensland kids are being returned to abusive parents.

The Palaszczuk government has rushed its child safety department boss to Townsville after disturbing revelations of the management of vulnerable kids was exposed by a whistleblower.

A Townsville Bulletin investigation revealed concerning instances of children being reunified with abusive parents, a “10 fold” increase in carer complaints and accusations from a former child safety officer that concerns were falling on deaf ears.

On Wednesday afternoon, Minister for Children and Youth Justice Leanne Linard said her department’s director-general was travelling to the state’s north to address the disturbing claims.

Queensland Minister for Children and Youth Justice Leanne Linard has rushed to Townsville amid allegations children are being reunified with abusive parents. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“Any allegations like that are concerning,” the Minister told reporters. “When concerns are raised, they are looked into and we take them very seriously.”

The concerned whistleblower called on heads to roll over the damning allegations and Ms Linard insisted the local management would be “rigorously looked at”.

“Whenever concerns, complaints or allegations are raised, they must be taken seriously,” she said.

“This whole system is about serving the interests of vulnerable children and young people – that is the purpose of the child safety system, that’s what we work towards.

“And if there are concerns being raised that we’re not meeting that threshold and that aim then we look at those seriously.”

The Townsville Bulletin revealed horrific management of vulnerable children which included a little girl who was sexually abused so badly her bowel ruptured was living back at home with the mother who never gave her perpetrator up.

A child safety whistleblower has lifted the lid on what’s happened behind closed doors in the department. Photo: iStock

The girl and her sister were reunified with their mother in December, 2021, despite concerns from carers wanting to “slow down” the process after only being notified of the department’s plan earlier that month, according to emails obtained by reporters.

The whistleblower told the paper that between 20 and 30 kids who are reunified end up back in the care of the state within six months.

He also complained of a toxic culture of cover-ups which he alleges he witnessed first-hand.

Opposition spokesperson for child safety Amanda Camm said the reports were “harrowing and heart breaking”.

“Their accounts detail children losing their childhood and a system failing to prioritise their safety.

“It takes a brave person to expose the inner workings of child safety, especially in the current political climate where integrity in government has reached its darkest point in three decades.”