Natasha Maclaren-Jones
Shadow Minister for Families and Communities
The horrific circumstances surrounding the death of a five-year-old boy in Grafton demand immediate answers from the Minister for Families and Communities.
Shadow Minister for Families and Communities Natasha Maclaren-Jones said reports that concerns had been raised with the Department were especially concerning.
"My thoughts are with the child's family, loved ones and everyone in the Grafton community affected by this devastating loss. This is an unthinkable tragedy," Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
"Once again the community is asking why this government has failed to protect our most vulnerable children."
"If warning signs were missed, ignored or not acted upon, that constitutes a systemic failure that the people of New South Wales will not accept."
"The Minister must explain what contact the Department of Communities and Justice had with this family, what interventions were made, and why they were not enough to prevent this devastating loss."
"The people of New South Wales deserve transparency and accountability. The Minister cannot simply refer this to yet another review while families and frontline workers are still waiting for answers from an earlier child death review."
Previous independent reports have revealed tens of thousands of children assessed as 'at risk‑of‑significant‑harm' (ROSH) are not receiving timely intervention, or intervention at all.
"The government knows there are workforce shortages, overwhelming caseloads, and gaps in early intervention. This case raises serious questions, and the Minister must explain what she is doing to fix them," Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
