A new facility for young people with mental health needs that are in danger of self-harm will be part of the community safety policy of any future LNP Queensland Government.
LNP leader David Crisafulli said the $383m community safety commitment would also include a new 24-hour supervision model for Residential Care.
Mr Crisafulli said if an LNP Government was elected at the October State election it would deliver a new dual-carer model, with two carers working at Residential Care facilities around the clock, providing safety, restoring behavioural consequences for children and ensuring they were attending school.
He said a new $50 million SecureCare facility for young people with mental health needs would also be established by 2028.
“It will provide safe care to children who are a danger to themselves and others.”
Mr Crisafulli said a new $27 million professional foster care pilot for children whose complex needs can’t be met in Residential Care would also be set up.
Other pledges under the plan are:
- 20 percent boost to Child Safety officer numbers.
- $1500 boost to yearly allowance for each child in out-of-home care, for education and extracurricular activities.
- New independent complaints escalation process for complex cases to support families and carers.
Mr Crisafulli said, currently, 11,810 children were living away from home under the care of Child Safety with 1955 children in Residential Care, including 358 under 10 years of age.
“By restoring and significantly strengthening support and parental care, the plan ensures children who first come into contact with the Child Safety system receive the critical support and intervention they need to turn their lives around.”
Other recent LNP election commitments include:
Biosecurity
- $50 million biosecurity boost to tackle emerging threats to agriculture in Queensland.
- 100 additional biosecurity officers to be stationed at regional Department of Agriculture and Fisheries facilities in biosecurity hotspots.
- A focus on strengthening biosecurity across the Cape, including a review of the closure of the Cape York Biosecurity Facility at Coen.
- Strengthening the fire ant eradication program.
Resources and STEM
- $2.5 million to build pipeline of resources workers.
- Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy to be expanded to 50 additional Queensland schools.
- New regional Academy hubs to provide local trainers.
- Focus on providing a pathway for more women to move into operating and technical roles.
Housing
- Half of housing infrastructure fund to kickstart regional Queensland housing build.
- $1 billion investment to help regional Queenslanders into new homes.
Multiculturalism
- $5 million Multicultural Connect grants program to support not-for-profit multicultural community groups over four years.
- Grants of up to $500,000 available to upgrade or build community halls, meeting spaces or sporting facilities.
- Matched contributions from community groups, as part of the four-year program.
