Brisbane Archdiocese has welcomed the Crisafulli government’s announcement of the establishment of the Queensland Protection Commission to strengthen the protection of children across the state.
The Queensland Government will invest $250 million to establish the agency, aimed at improving the protection of children from sexual abuse.
ABC News reports the agency is a response to a review that found multiple opportunities were missed to stop one of Australia’s most notorious pedophiles, Ashley Paul Griffith.
Griffith was sentenced to life in prison in 2024, with a non-parole period of 27 years, after pleading guilty to more than 300 charges committed in childcare centres in Brisbane and Italy over almost two decades.
A report by the Child Death Review Board found there were more than 18 points where Griffith’s offending could have been detected or disrupted earlier.
The government commissioned a 10-month review into system responses to child sexual abuse using Griffith’s offending as a case study.
In response to the review yesterday, Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the Queensland Protection Commission would be established to provide a single point of leadership, coordination and accountability for the wellbeing and safety of children.
In a statement, the Brisbane Archdiocese commended Ms Frecklington and the state government “for placing prevention and early detection at the centre of their response to the Child Death Review Board’s In Plain Sight report”.
Brisbane Archbishop Shane Mackinlay said the “reforms confront a clear and painful lesson”.
“Harm is missed when information sits in silos and when warning signs are treated in isolation,” Archbishop Mackinlay said.
“Bringing Blue Card screening, the reportable conduct scheme and child safe standards together under one body is a sound and overdue step. So too is the new intelligence hub, designed to connect concerns that might otherwise go unseen.
“The Archdiocese and its agencies, including Brisbane Catholic Education, Centacare and Catholic Early EdCare, work every day to keep children safe.
“We support the reportable conduct scheme and welcome its commencement.
“We will engage constructively as the Commission is designed and established, and we will continue to do our part.”
“We must never forget the children and families who have been harmed by past failures. Protecting today’s children is the reason this work matters.”
FULL STORY
Catholic Archdiocese welcomes new Queensland Protection Commission (Brisbane Archdiocese)
Queensland Protection Commission to be established after review into child sexual abuse and system responses (By Claudia Williams, ABC News)
