Boys’ mistreatment prompts action on disability report
Craig Crawford says Queensland will adopt the recommendations of the disability royal commission. Photo: AAP
The Queensland government will adopt recommendations put forward by a disability royal commission report, after two autistic teens were subjected to abuse, neglect and violence.
Child Safety Minister Craig Crawford apologised on behalf of government when the findings were handed down last week and said all five recommendations would be accepted in full or in principle.
The boys, known by the pseudonyms Kaleb and Jonathon, were subjected to the deprivation of their human rights in the care of their father between 2000 and May 2020.
In 2020 the boys were found by authorities virtually naked in a bedroom with the door handles removed, in soiled nappies and with their dead father in a nearby room.
Details of the boys’ plight were unearthed at a public hearing of the national disability royal commission in May.
Mr Crawford told parliament the whole-of-government response should have been much better.
“I’m pleased to advise the house that we have accepted or accepted in principle all five recommendations,” he said on Tuesday.
The government will increase training and resources for government employees, and review the Child Protection Act to consider if mandatory child safety reporting requirements should apply to all Queensland police officers.
An independent review will be undertaken, and consideration for compensation to Kaleb and Jonathon has also been fully accepted.
The further incorporation of voices and experiences of people with disabilities in the child protection system has been accepted in principle.
The government has also accepted in principle expanding the Queensland public guardians’ child advocate scheme beyond categories of children in the tertiary child protection system, to children and young people with disability at risk of entering the child protection system.
Opposition child protection spokesperson Amanda Camm said the government must commit to publicly releasing the review findings in full.
“The horrific failures of this case cannot be allowed to happen again,” she said in a statement.
The final report for the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability is due by September 29.
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-AAP