Tassie kids removed from Safe Pathways program because of media attention, says Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma

ELEVEN Tasmanian children will be removed from out-of-home care provider Safe Pathways because of “intense media attention”, Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma says.

Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma, pictured here on the last sitting day of State Parliament for 2016, has been repeated questioned about the Safe Pathways program after allegations against the business first surfaced on ABC TV’s Four Corners program. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

ELEVEN Tasmanian children will be removed from out-of-home care provider Safe Pathways because of “intense media attention”, Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma says.

Ms Petrusma said her office was informed of the department’s decision to remove the children yesterday afternoon.

When repeatedly asked whether other factors had also been part of the decision, Ms Petrusma said the children were distressed by media attention.

“Unfortunately ... the intense media attention these children have experienced over the last few weeks has caused these children a high level of distress both in their home and school environment,” she said.

She said it was “impossible to isolate these children from the accusations that have been made against Safe Pathways”.

“In regards to the children, their safety has been our number one priority, which is the reason why the children weren’t removed from Safe Pathways straight away,” the minister said.

“While the children are safe, their wellbeing is also of concern, which is why because of the high level of distress the children are experiencing they are now being removed due to the amount of media attention they have been receiving.”

Ms Petrusma said the children would be transferred as soon as possible to other providers.

Following the decision to remove the children, Ms Petrusma was informed that an interim independent financial audit into Safe Pathways had revealed “some anomalies”.

She said her advice was verbal, and more information could not be released until the financial report was completed.

The State Government is reviewing its arrangements with private provider Safe Pathways after a series of complaints about the way Tasmanian children under the business’s care have been treated.

Former staff have also alleged to the ABC TV’s Four Corners program that children under the care of Safe Pathways were surviving on a pittance and going without basics such as food, clothing and healthcare.

This was despite the company being paid about $9000 per week per child by the Government.