A new Queensland Protection Commission will be set up to provide oversight, accountability and coordination of child protection.
This is part of the State Government’s response to the In Plain Sight review of child protection, commissioned last year.
The report found that one of Australia’s worst paedophiles, Ashley Paul Griffith, could have been stopped on five separate occasions if Queensland had a Reportable Conduct Scheme.
It identified more than 18 points where Griffith’s offending could have been detected or disrupted earlier with the right system in place.
The Queensland Child Protection Commission will bring together key safeguarding functions currently operating across different areas of government.
This includes the Reportable Conduct Scheme, Child Safe Standards and Working with Children Check responsibilities.
A dedicated intelligence hub will also be established within the Commission to improve information sharing, identify emerging risks earlier and support agencies to respond more effectively to concerns about child safety.
The Commission will permanently house experts from the Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Families, Department of Youth Justice and Queensland Police.
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the Government had accepted or accepted in principle the majority of recommendations from the In Plain Sight Review.
It would work across agencies to deliver the reforms through a coordinated whole-of-government implementation approach.
A Reportable Conduct Scheme was recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2017 but not implemented by the previous government.
Ms Frecklington said the reforms were about keeping children safer, restoring confidence and strengthening safeguards.
“This is about protecting vulnerable children who cannot protect themselves,” she said.
Child Death Review Board Chairperson Luke Twyford said In Plain Sight showed that child sexual abuse was not a rare event.
“It is widespread, persistent and often hidden in plain sight. It is a tragic reality that one in four children have experienced, or will experience, child sexual abuse unless something changes,” Mr Twyford said.
“The sexual abuse of children is a national problem, and these reforms will position Queensland as the national leader in child safeguarding, establishing one of the most advanced prevention and threat-detection systems in Australia.
“My review identified clear opportunities to better connect information, strengthen accountability and improve the way risks are identified before children are harmed. No society should wait for abuse to occur before it reacts.”
The Government’s response to the In Plain Sight report can be found here
