QLD: Oppn critical of govt panic spending
By Paul Osborne, State Political Correspondent
BRISBANE, Aug 19 AAP - The Queensland Opposition today accused the government of "panicspending" as it announced an extra $2 million in child protection funding.
Premier Peter Beattie said today the government would provide $1 million this financialyear and $2 million over the full year on top of the June budget to provide an extra 25coordinators for the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) program.
Opposition leader Lawrence Springborg said today the government was simply trying toshift political pressure.
"This is panic money - this is about trying to make a very difficult situation forthe government go away and it's not going to go away," Mr Springborg said.
"The real issue here is the fact that the government has not only been shamed intoit but it's part of a damage control exercise."
The state's 38 SCAN teams, which involve health and families professionals and police,pool their resources and expertise to protect children suspected of abuse or neglect.
Families Minister Judy Spence said here were currently only two SCAN coordinators bothof whom were based in Brisbane.
"This measure will significantly improve critical decisions about children at risk,strengthening the checks and balances as we reform the child protection system," Ms Spencesaid.
She said the government would not wait for the results of a number of inquiries, includingthe Crime and Misconduct Commission's probe into the abuse of children in foster careand her department's own internal review, before allocating extra money and reformingthe system.
The Opposition today in parliament accused former Families Minister and now EducationMinister Anna Bligh of not following up in 1999 on the details of an abortion for a girlin care sanctioned by her director-general.
Ms Spence told parliament it had been normal practice for many years for the director-generalto inform the minister of a decision to sign off on a person in care having an abortion.
Mr Springborg said "alarm bells" should have rang for Ms Bligh, but she told parliamentshe stood by her record on child protection.
He said his office had received dozens of calls and case files from anti-abuse groupsand child protection workers pointing out flaws in the system that showed the need fora state royal commission into the issue.
AAP pjo/bd/moe
KEYWORD: FOSTERS NIGHTLEAD
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