Queensland child safety minister vows to cut under-five residential placements as numbers hit record

Queensland released figures indicating that 2,819 children were in residential care in March, a historic high that includes 107 under-five-year-olds, up from 78 the previous year. Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm described this surge as a “line in the sand” and reiterated her commitment to end residential placements for children under five. In response to an 11-month inquiry that issued 52 recommendations, the state accepted 32 outright and accepted in principle another 16, committing $200 million this financial year to implement changes.

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington outlined reforms focused on early intervention, stable permanent care, court processes, and legislative updates. The plan also features an aggressive push to recruit foster and kinship carers and a restructuring of the child-safety department, though full departmental redesign was only accepted in principle. Legal Aid Queensland’s role in providing representation for child-protection proceedings was also noted.