Key events
Experts say reforms needed as Queensland begins child protection inquiry
Brave reforms are needed to protect the most neglected, abused and disadvantaged kids from a “harmful” child protection system, advocates say.
Calls for transformational change have been made before a Queensland government-backed child safety system inquiry that begins in Brisbane today, AAP reports.
The inquiry, which is expected to last 17 months and cost $20m, will investigate the system’s failures and the damage it has caused, and will recommend changes to better protect vulnerable children.
Queensland had more than 3,000 children living in out-of-home care in 2024, many with traumatic backgrounds and needs not being met by the child safety system.
Elements of the state’s child protection system were not fit for purpose and harmful to children and families, Queensland’s family and children commissioner, Luke Twyford said.
“This inquiry can produce the bold and transformational reform needed to deliver better outcomes for Queensland children and families,” he said.
The inquiry must listen to children, young people and families with experience of the system and take action on what they said, Twyford said.
“They know best how the system performs and the changes needed to deliver on the promise the system makes to keep children safe,” he said.
The Youth Advocacy Centre’s chief executive, Katherine Hayes, said significant system change was urgently needed to improve the lives of vulnerable children facing the “most awful circumstances” every day without the proper assistance of child safety.
One dead and one hospitalised after Sydney jet ski crash
Breaking out of politics for a moment: A teenage boy has died and another is in hospital in a critical condition after a jet ski crash in Sydney, AAP reports.
Emergency crews were called to Tom Uglys Bridge in Sylvania, in Sydney’s south, just after 6pm last night after reports of people floating in the water.
A 15-year-old boy was found deceased in the water and was unable to be revived, police said.
A 14-year-old boy was treated at the scene for a severed arm and taken to Sydney Children’s hospital by paramedics. He was in a critical condition last night.
A crime scene has been established and investigations into the crash have begun.
It was a rather more gentle introduction for Ali France, the new Labor MP who defeated Peter Dutton at the last election, who gave a very moving, personal maiden speech about the obstacles she has overcome on her way to becoming an MP.
We have a story right here:
And some video of that speech:
It’s been a baptism of fire for the Australian Greens leader, Larissa Waters, who has begun her first parliamentary session in the top job with an internal crisis over the expulsion of co-founder Drew Hutton.
When asked last night on ABC’s 7.30 about the exact reasons for Hutton’s defenestration from the party, Waters said that she had not read the relevant documentation and that it had been dealt with “by the party”.
Full story here:
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then Krishani Dhanji will take the controls.
Larissa Waters is likely to face more questions today about the Greens’ handling of the expulsion of co-founder Drew Hutton. She told the ABC’s 7.30 last night that she had not read the relevant documentation on the case and had left the process “to the party”. More coming up.
An inquiry into Queensland’s child safety system begins in Brisbane today with calls for transformational change to better protect vulnerable children. The inquiry, which is expected to last 17 months and cost an estimated $20m, will investigate the system’s failures and the damage it has caused and will recommend changes. We have more coming up and we’ll bring you updates when it gets under way later this morning.
Parliament will resume as Labor takes the first steps to implement its second term agenda. The education minister, Jason Clare, is due to deliver on Labor’s election promise by introducing legislation to the lower house to slash university debt for three million Australians by 20%.
Plus the national parliament’s first question time in more than 100 days! What a treat.
