Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has defended two ministers facing questions in their posts and elsewhere, as a police investigation enters its second month without public comment.
The Prime Minister met with reporters in Brisbane on Sunday after announcing a new six-year deal to bring Anzac Day trans-Tasman rugby union trials to the cityamid issues facing his ministers of security and youth rights.
Reports emerged on Saturday that children in government care were sleep on the floor in child safety centers, after allegations that the provider of the main election program misused public funds.
Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber told parliament on Friday that her department referred Namu Collective to the state’s anti-corruption watchdog, the police, the state’s corporate regulator and the tax office in a second case.
This master mast he was investigating provider of “continuity compliance” software and its complex organizational structure, which points to the New Zealand-based group “combining profitability with purpose”, for months.
The latest developments follow conflicting statements from Gerber and his department on the process of selecting four new crime prevention “schools” after an initial round of procurement it was torn.
One Cairns provider of a promised “regional reset” scheme had its funding pulled by the government earlier this month after it claimed it had not met its contract – claims opposed by the organization.
Asked if he still had faith in Gerber’s ability to manage the early intervention programs his government took to the polls, Crisafulli said he did, “very much”.
“I think he’s handled it perfectly,” Crisafulli said. The Prime Minister would not be asked if he then considered there might be issues with the department’s procurement practices.
Crisafulli told reporters in Townsville on Saturday that he would seek a briefing on child safety issues, issued by the government and the United Nations earlier this month.
Speaking to reporters after the rugby announcement formalities after noon on Sunday, Crisafulli said he had just returned to Brisbane and had not yet received the information.
“I want Queenslanders to know how serious we are about fixing the child safety system. It’s broken and residential care is at the heart of how bad the system is – there’s a reason why we’re calling Child Safety Commission of Inquiry,” he said.
Matt Dennien is a Brisbane Times reporter covering state, parliamentary and public sector politics. He has previously worked in Tasmanian newspapers and Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ. Contact him safely on Waves @mattdennien.15Connect through email address.
