Mason Lee death: Premier demands action on department staff failings

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the report into the death of toddler Mason Jet Lee may not be released, despite promises to the contrary in 2017.

THE Child Death Case Review Panel’s report into the death of Queensland toddler Mason Jet Lee may not be released, despite Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk having committed to making it public in 2017.

It comes after former Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman promised in November 2016 to release the CDCR Panel’s report in early 2017.

At the time, Ms Palaszczuk said the document would be released following court proceedings.

But today the Premier said, “I’m happy to have a look at that but my understanding is that they (report) are never publicly released but they form part of the Child Death Review Panel board that does actually release their findings at the end of each year.”

Pressed on what her reasons were for not releasing it, Ms Palaszczuk said “they’re not released”.

Queensland’s Public Service Commissioner will look at all the staff involved in Mason’s case, following damning inquest findings.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk this morning said it wasn’t publicly acceptable for a department to judge a department.

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It comes after Deputy Coroner Jane Bentley issued a scathing rebuke of the Child Safety officers involved in Mason’s case, saying they failed in “nearly every way possible”.

None of the 21 staff involved were sacked, with three having left of their own accord.

A further nine were reprimanded, while it’s not known whether any action was taken against the remaining nine.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Coroner’s report made for very difficult reading.

“A tragedy has occurred here, and a young boy has lost his life,” she said.

“Everything that needs to happen, must happen.

“I’ve spoken with my Director-General today and I have asked that the coroner’s report be forwarded to him to go to our Public Service Commissioner.

“I don’t think that it’s publicly acceptable for a department to judge a department.

“The Public Service Commissioner must look at all of the staff that have been involved.”

Mason Lee was failed by everyone who should have cared for him.

The Premier said the case was heartbreaking.

“We just need to go through that report very carefully and we need to make sure that we adopt the recommendations that the deputy coroner has made.”

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said the Premier needed to take responsibility “for one of the biggest failures in the child protection history”, while claiming it wasn’t good enough to “pass the buck” to the Public Service Commission.

“Little Mason Jet Lee was left to die because the system that was there to protect him let him down in nearly every possible way,” she said.

“The buck stops with the Premier.”

Ms Frecklington said she wanted to see a full review of the Child Safety Department - rather than a review of the 21 staff involved.

“It’s not good enough just to palm it off to the Public Service Commission,” she said.

Originally published as Mason Lee death: Premier demands action on department staff failings