Queensland’s Bold Pledge to Lead Nation in Child Safety

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Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has vowed to make the state a national leader in child safety, announcing robust measures to overhaul a system plagued by recent scandals. From inquiries into systemic failures to tougher laws inspired by tragic cases, the Liberal National Party (LNP) government is prioritizing the protection of vulnerable children, aiming to restore public trust and ensure safer communities.

The urgency of reform stems from disturbing incidents, including allegations of misconduct in childcare centres. In July 2025, a 21-year-old Brisbane childcare worker faced charges for indecent treatment of a four-year-old, while a convicted sex offender was found working at another facility, highlighting gaps in oversight. Premier Crisafulli, addressing these issues, declared, “We are not going to have a situation where monsters can lurk in centres where our most precious asset, our children, go every day” (ABC News, July 19, 2025). His government is fast-tracking a reportable conduct scheme, set to roll out in July 2026, requiring organizations to investigate and report harm to children, a move rooted in the 2017 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

A landmark Commission of Inquiry, launched in May 2025 and led by former Federal Court Judge Paul Anastassiou KC, is probing the state’s “broken” child safety system. With a budget of $20 million, it aims to address the ballooning $1.12 billion residential care sector, where costs have skyrocketed from $200 million in 2014/15. The inquiry will examine why 2,212 children, including 116 under five, are in residential care as of December 2024, and why nearly a third of serious young offenders are in state care (ABC News, May 19, 2025). Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm emphasized, “This is about a generation of children failed by a broken system” (ABC News, May 18, 2025).

The LNP’s commitment extends to legislative reforms, like “Daniel’s Law,” inspired by the tragic murder of Daniel Morcombe. This $10 million initiative will establish a public child sex offender registry by year’s end, empowering parents to protect their children. Crisafulli’s vision is clear: Queensland will set the standard for child safety, prioritizing victims over offenders and delivering a safer future for all.