Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Hansard source

In Tasmania we have a crisis of the worst kind. Our kids are dying because our Liberal government is failing them, failing miserably to provide protection for Tasmania's most vulnerable kids, especially in my backyard, on the north-west coast. The findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government's Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings were an absolute national shame, and Tasmania was rightfully shamed by international organisations, yet the state Liberal government continues to fail in child protection services. Crippling staff shortages have had catastrophic consequences.

Late last month in Smithton a four-year-old boy died after a man allegedly stomped on him. That four-year-old had a whole life in front of him stolen by those who should have been caring for him. Nothing the state government does now will bring that four-year-old boy back—absolutely nothing—but what the state Liberal government can do is make sure another Tasmanian child doesn't die at the hands of neglect. On the north-west coast, 60 per cent of jobs in child safety are currently vacant. That's well over half.

There have been claims that the state government's health line, Strong Families Safe Kids, has had over 1,000 referrals that are still sitting on the desk. That this kind of neglect has happened and continues to happen makes me feel physically sick. It is totally unacceptable, and it doesn't look like there is an end in sight. Despite all of this evidence and all of the headlines about the sorry state of Tasmania's child protection sector, the Rockliff government still seems to be putting the protection of our most vulnerable children at the bottom of their to-do list.

Minister Jaensch told the Mercury newspaper two days ago, 'The government is currently working on a package and will have more to say on this in the coming days.' Well, mate, you've had 10 years to fix it, and we've got dead kids. This is really—it's not even unacceptable; I can't find a word for it. It's absolutely horrific—10 years, Premier Rockliff. I can tell you: Tasmanians have every right to feel safe, but our kids have even more of a right to feel it.