Child protection funding cuts slammed by opposition as demand for services tipped to increase

A decision to cut funding to safeguard vulnerable children is a failure of the government, the opposition has claimed.

A decision to cut funding to safeguard vulnerable children from abuse amid a growing demand on the child protection system is a failure of the government, the opposition has claimed.

The opposition has slammed a budget decision for the Department for Child Protection to cut funding by almost $63 million, despite key activity indicators forecasting huge increases in demand.

It claims the DCP spent $67.8m excess in 2023-24 to an extended budget for the financial year, with the 24-25 budget proposing a $62.7 million reduction in spending.

Shadow Minister for Child Protection Josh Teague said demand on the child protection system was “harrowing” as key activity indicators show problems are set to become worse.

Shadow Minister for Child Protection Josh Teague. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Child Protection Katrine Hildyard. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Mr Teague said Minister for Child Protection Katrine Hildyard had lost control of her department because of other distractions and must resign, having “refused to relinquish her unrelated portfolios”.

“Our state’s most vulnerable children need support from DCP more than ever, yet Katrine Hildyard is under strict instructions to cut funding”, Mr Teague said.

“Where demand for services to support and save vulnerable children from abuse is on a sharp rise, Labor’s move to cut funding is a vote of no confidence in its own Minister’s capacity to manage the portfolio.

“Katrine Hildyard has meanwhile failed to meet key targets for child protection.”

The opposition said the cuts came after only 57 per cent of notifications investigated within seven days of receipt in 2023-24, falling well short of Katrine Hildyard’s 75 per cent target.

Child protection Minister Katrine Hildyard hit back at the opposition’s claims backing Labor’s commitments to supporting vulnerable children.

“We won’t apologise for investing around $450 million dollars of additional funding into supporting children and young people and strengthening families,” she said.

“Our investments are beginning to work. We have fewer children in care, more carers and more staff since this time last year.”

“In 2020 under the then government, we saw 9.6 per cent growth of children coming into care. In comparison, growth has now significantly slowed – with a 0.2 per cent reduction in the number of children in care as at April 30, 2024.

She said the government won’t be “shying away from the challenge”.

“We will stay the course toward reform and we will not be distracted by the ridiculous and utterly incoherent and untrue assertions made by the opposition,” she said,

“As the Treasurer outlined in Estimates, Treasury and the Department for Child Protection are committed to ensuring we are providing services to those who need them in an effective manner.”

Originally published as Child protection funding cuts slammed by opposition as demand for services tipped to increase