Latest revelations about Jacquie Petrusma cannot be swept aside
Misleading Parliament on serious concerns about children must be final straw
Petrusma must return from leave, explain her actions and resign
Clear evidence that Jacquie Petrusma mislead the Parliament about the safety of some of the state’s most vulnerable children should compel the Premier to finally step in and act on her disastrous tenure in one of the government’s most important Ministries.
Shadow Child Protection Minister Josh Willie said the revelations aired on the ABC last night clearly showed Mrs Petrusma mislead Parliament over children caught up in the Safe Pathways scandal and – after a litany of mistakes stretching over three years under the Minister’s watch – Will Hodgman could not ask Tasmanians to accept that he would not now take action.
“It’s apparent to all Tasmanians after Mrs Petrusma’s catastrophic time as Child Protection Minister that Will Hodgman is more concerned with protecting her than he is about being serious about child protection,” Mr Willie said.
“Last night it was made clear that Mrs Petrusma stood in the Parliament and claimed the 11 children in Safe Pathways care had been checked on in the fallout of shocking allegations about the private provider – despite the fact she had not been given that assurance at all.
“Today while Mrs Petrusma remains on leave, Rene Hidding has contradicted emails broadcast on the ABC which show what is black and white – Mrs Petrusma mislead Parliament.
“Tasmanians have had enough of the half-truths and the mistruths. All each of us want is a child protection system that keeps kids safe and a Minister who is dedicated to keeping them safe.
“There has been abject failure in that serious regard under Mrs Petrusma and it just cannot be allowed to continue.”
Josh Willie MLC Shadow Child Protection Minister
