Roger Jaensch,Minister for Human Services
Keeping children, young people, families, carers and staff safe and secure has been a top priority for the Tasmanian Government throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the Greens' claims, there have been no reduction or cuts to the services that children or families require, nor will there be.
We have implemented significant improvements to better safeguard vulnerable children since our election in 2014, and these will continue through our $51 million, comprehensive reform of the child safety system.
We have also invested in Child Safety staffing with 25 additional Child Safety Officers and other front line staff recruited since 2014, a 20 per cent increase.
And during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government implemented a $2.5 million child safety and wellbeing package to ensure children, young people and their families had access to the extra support they needed.
There is no doubt the pandemic has brought many serious challenges for many people in our community, including our young people, which is why we responded quickly to increase resources and supports available to help those who need it.
The Department of Communities also undertook extensive planning and implemented a range of operational changes to ensure staff and clients are kept safe and essential services maintained through all phases of the pandemic.
The Child Safety Service will continue to monitor demand and is well prepared to respond as we continue to move through the recovery phases.
