Queensland’s Blue Card under review with new Inquiry

The Queensland Government will deliver critical child safety reform with an Inquiry into potential Government  failures of the Blue Card Child Protection System.

To be led by Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) Child Death Review Board Chair, Luke Twyford, the Inquiry delivers on a key 100 Day Plan commitment and will hear from Queensland families directly impacted by a recently convicted paedophile who worked in long day care (LDC) settings in Australia and overseas.

The man was sentenced to life in prison last year, with a non-parole period of 27 years, after pleading guilty to more than 300 charges committed against children in his care, over almost two decades.

He was not eligible for parole until 2049 but is appealing his sentence. 

The review will use the man as a case study to examine system responses to child sexual abuse and make recommendations to improve laws and policies across early childhood education, police, and the blue card systems.

The Terms of Reference for the Inquiry will be focused on system responses to child sexual abuse, including those that failed to protect children from the recently convicted man. The Inquiry itself will identify weaknesses in laws, policies, procedures and practices, across early childhood education and care, police, and blue card systems.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli is hopeful the Inquiry will uncover system failings and deliver recommendations needed to improve Queensland’s child protection system framework.  

“This Inquiry is what is needed to bring child protection weaknesses into the light and protect children from the danger lurking in the shadows,” Premier Crisafulli said.  

“When parents drop their children off at childcare or school, they want to know that everything is being done to protect their kids.”

“We must leave no stone unturned in identifying weaknesses across government that are failing, keeping children safe and implementing the reform that’s urgently needed.” 

Child Death Review Board Chairperson Luke Twyford said he welcomed the opportunity to lead the review, examining one of the most horrific cases of child sexual exploitation reported in Australia.

“I am committed to working closely with government agencies and community organisations to identify the gaps in the system that enabled this opportunity for harm, analyse the system response, and identify the improvements needed,” Mr Twyford said.

“The review will include input from experts and victims of child sexual exploitation to ensure our review is carried out to the highest standards and considers contemporary child safeguarding practices.

“Our findings will be released publicly, and we will release public progress reports throughout the review period to ensure transparency and to provide the public with confidence in the process,” he said.

The Terms of Reference for the System Response to Child Sexual Abuse have been endorsed by the Child Death Review Board and work will start immediately.

The Terms of Reference are available at www.qfcc.qld.gov.au  

Sexual assault support services:

• Queensland Sexual Assault Helpline: 1800 010 120
• 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
• National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service: 1800 211 028
• Bravehearts (support for child sexual abuse survivors): 1800 272 831
• Centre Against Sexual Violence: (07) 3808 3299