 Child Protection Minister claims Children’s Commissioner recommendations will be implemented “immediately”
 Premier says recommendations will be “considered”
 Hodgman needs to work with Petrusma to start implementation

Premier Will Hodgman must today explain when his government will begin to implement the crucial recommendations of the Children’s Commissioner report into out of home care after his Human Services Minister claimed they would be put into effect “immediately”.

Shadow Child Safety Minister Josh Willie said the Premier and Minister had created further confusion about Tasmania’s gravely under-resourced child protection system by contradicting each other after the release of Commissioner Mark Morrissey’s important report yesterday.

“Within 30 minutes of receiving the report, Jacquie Petrusma said the government had accepted all seven of the Commissioner’s recommendations and would immediately begin implementing the recommendations,” Mr Willie said.

“Within the space of just a few hours, the Premier changed the government’s tune and said the recommendations would be considered in the context of future Budgets.

“Today both Mr Hodgman and Mrs Petrusma need to clarify when these important recommendations will be acted upon.

“Tasmania’s child protection system under this Minister is dangerously under-resourced and the Premier needs to back his Minister to start implementing the recommendations today.

“Mr Morrissey has produced a very important report which contains very important recommendations to ensure that Tasmania’s most vulnerable children have the best care.

“Labor is ready and willing to work with the government to ensure those recommendations are implemented.

“This Minister has presided over mistake after mistake in the crucial child protection area and there is no excuse for her not to act immediately on Mr Morrissey’s report and ensure the 1,100 Tasmanian children under her care are housed in a system that has the resources to ensure they are given the best care and protection.”
Josh Willie MLC Shadow Minister for Housing, Disability and Child Safety