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September 14th, 2011 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda
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The ACT Government is reviewing how children are placed into out of home care.
ACT public service advocate Anita Phillips says she will move quickly on a review of child protection in the Territory.
The ACT Government has ordered an independent review of care and protection services for children after being alerted to a potential breach of the Children and Young People Act.
Community Services Minister Joy Burch says between July and August the Community Services Directorate asked a welfare group to house five young children in need of emergency care.
But it appears the organisation may not have had proper approval to provide that service.
Ms Burch says the children were never at risk but she has asked Ms Phillips to review the incident, and check all placements of children who are in the Government’s care.
“There appears to be that the final approval for that residential placement wasn’t confirmed. That’s a question I have and that’s why I’ve instigated this independent review,” Ms Burch said.
“There’s nothing in front of me at the moment that indicates this is nothing more than an isolated incident but I need that assurance. That review will give me that assurance or it will give me other information.”
Ms Phillips says she will meet officials today to discuss the timeline for her investigation.
“I will be assuring the directorate that it won’t be a protracted process, that I will do it just as soon as I possibly can,” she said.
“I anticipate beginning the investigation as soon as Monday because I realise that time is of the essence and this isn’t something that I’d like to take a protracted length of time about getting into.”
‘Catastrophic breakdown’
The ACT Opposition says the potential breach highlights government mismanagement.
Spokeswoman Vicki Dunne says there has been a catastrophic breakdown in procedure.
“It is possible that the agency was not authorised to look after children and in asking it to do so, the directorate breached its Act,” she said.
Ms Dunne wrote to the minister last week after receiving a briefing from the directorate.
“One of the first questions I asked the officials was why were these children put in care when this was not a function performed by this agency,” she said.
“The minister’s officials couldn’t give me an answer except that they were desperate to find somewhere to place these children.”
Ms Dunne’s letter also raised concerns that the initial accommodation provided had no beds, no running hot water and no adequate power.
Ms Burch says the property was not the Government’s responsibility but she is asking those questions.
The Government has suspended the services of the organisation, which has previously provided other services without any breach.
Ms Dunne says the Government has mistreated the organisation involved, which she says is reputable and credible.
Greens Leader Meredith Hunter has welcomed the review.
“This is a serious breach. It does need to be independently investigated and I think it’s the right move to get the public advocate to look into this matter,” she said.
Topics:
children,
states-and-territories,
canberra-2600,
act
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