Child Protection Minister’s latest action too little, too late

 Petrusma finally acts on for-profit care provider
 Minister should have acted months ago when allegations first raised
 Government needs to make findings of review public
More than three months after allegations of neglect were raised against a for-profit care provider in charge of a group of Tasmanian children, Child Protection Minister Jacquie Petrusma has finally taken action.
Shadow Child Safety Minister Josh Willie said Mrs Petrusma’s announcement today that 11 children at the centre of allegations would not be returned to provider Safe Pathways was too little, too late.
“The Minister has admitted she was first made aware of concerns around this for-profit company in August – three months before allegations of neglect were aired on Four Corners,” Mr Willie said.
“It has taken her until today to confirm that these children will not be returned to the company’s care and that is not good enough.
“Action should have been taken the moment these concerns were raised.
“Instead, Mrs Petrusma allowed these children to remain in Safe Pathways’ care and – even after the ABC exposed these shocking allegations – she still did not remove them.
“This Minister is charge of one of the most important areas of government and is responsible for the care of our most vulnerable children but she has again failed them badly.
“The Minister needs to explain why the investigation into Safe Pathways she says is underway is taking so much time and she needs to provide Tasmanians with a guarantee that the findings of this review will be made public”
Josh Willie MP Shadow Minister for Housing, Disability and Child Safety