Minister Fentiman sitting on damning internal report into the death of Mason Jet Lee
• Internal report into the death of Mason Jet Lee reveals gross negligence on behalf of the department and child safety officers
• Report also show gross malpractice at the Caboolture Child Safety Office
Embattled Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman is sitting on a damning report into the death of toddler Mason Jet Lee which will shock Queenslanders to their core.
Shadow Child Safety Minister Ros Bates said Minister Fentiman was only refusing to release internal reports of what happened to Mason Jet Lee and other children who died in care over the past year, including Tiahleigh Palmer, because the findings were politically explosive.
“I have been told the report into the death of Mason Lee is particularly damning and reveals gross negligence on behalf of the department and child safety officers,” Ms Bates said.
“The report also says there are systemic issues within the Department of Child Safety.
“The report, conducted by the Internal Child Death Systems and Practice Review Team, is said to also show gross malpractice at the Caboolture Child Safety office.
“Why were the eight people who have viewed the report made to sign confidentiality agreements?
“That is unprecedented in itself.
“Clearly this report is so damning and explosive the Palaszczuk Labor Government is going to extreme lengths to keep it secret.”
Ms Bates said the Minister should accept responsibility for gross failings under her watch and release the report immediately because it was in the public interest.
“This is a government that bleats about transparency but only when it suits them,” she said.
“What has the Minister got to hide if she is so confident the system is not in crisis as she keeps saying?
“Queenslanders have lost confidence in the state’s child protection system and hiding these secret internal reviews will shatter the little trust that is left in the system.
“If the Minister won’t release the reviews then Premier Annastasia Palaszczuk needs to step in and order their release, but Queenslanders shouldn’t hold their breath on that.”
