Latest news with #DavidCrisafulli
7NEWS
3 days ago
- 7NEWS
Childcare worker charged over alleged indecent act involving four-year-old in Brisbane
A childcare worker has been charged over an alleged indecent treatment of a four-year-old child. Police allege the incident occurred on July 10 at an Affinity Education Group centre in Tingalpa, Brisbane, Queensland. The 21-year-old Cleveland man handed himself in to Wynnum Police Station and was charged with one count of indecent treatment of a child, police said. The childcare provider Affinity Education Group said the man was immediately stood down after complaints were raised. 'Upon becoming aware of complaints regarding the individual, we immediately reported the matter to the relevant authorities, including police, and stood down the individual,' a spokesperson said. 'This matter is being taken extremely seriously and we are providing our full co-operation to the Queensland Police. 'The safety and wellbeing of all children and staff at our centres is our highest priority and we will continue to support families and our team during this time.' The group confirmed the man held a valid Working With Children Check (Blue Card) and stated the charge only related to one centre. Affinity has since announced it is fast-tracking several safety initiatives across its national network, including CCTV upgrades, updated child safety training, and secure storage for staff devices. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the childcare safety crisis must be tackled but it will take time. 'The issue in childcare centres won't be solved overnight,' he said. 'It's confronting what is occurring but we're going to confront it head on. 'We are not going to have a situation where monsters can lurk in centres where our most vulnerable and most precious asset — our children — go every day.' The childcare worker has been granted conditional bail and is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Cour t on August 4. Policelink or Crime Stoppers. charges against former Victorian worker Joshua Dale Brown, who faces more than 70 child sex abuse offences.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
'Scary' child safety system in spotlight ahead of Queensland inquiry
As Queensland's inquiry into the child safety system announces its first public hearing will begin next week, Dakota McSpadden hopes the process will overhaul the "inadequate'' system she experienced as a child. "It never felt like care; it felt like punishment." Ms McSpadden, now aged 20, came to the attention of child safety at the age of nine, was homeless by 13 and entered residential care at 15. Residential care or "resi", as it is known by some, provides a environment where children as young as 12 live together under the watch of a social worker. Ms McSpadden said it was meant to be supportive, "but it was chaos". "People [in resi] turned a blind eye to what I was doing — I needed help … I never got consequences," she said. "I would act out in anger because I was so scared, and I think that's what a lot of kids do." The Sunshine Coast woman is one of many Queenslanders making a submission to the state government's review into what Premier David Crisafulli has called a "broken" child safety system. Led by former Federal Court judge Paul Anastassiou KC, the LNP's 18-month inquiry is examining how the state supports vulnerable children, including its growing reliance on residential care. As of July 2025, more than 2,000 children were in residential care in Queensland, up from 435 in 2015, according to government records. Residential care becomes an option when foster or kinship placements are not available or suitable. Typically, it is for children over 12, but the government's Residential Care Policy provides for children under 12 to be placed into residential care in "specific circumstances". Rebecca Scott has been a foster carer for 15 years in Queensland and Victoria, and spent a year as a residential care support worker on the Sunshine Coast. She described residential care as "confronting" and "unsafe". In one incident, a 10-year-old held a screwdriver to her throat. "These kids were just trying to out-tough each other." Ms Scott said the children often perceived residential care as a rule-free option. "They sabotage their foster homes to get into resi, then they realise it's scary, volatile," she said. Ms Scott said upon leaving resi to start adult life, many young people were ageing out of the system without any support systems in place. "They're turning 18, and they've got no relationship with foster carers or biological family — no one to turn to except kids they met in residential care," she said. The experience has left her convinced that the system is failing both children and carers. "These kids don't need more workers — they need parents," Ms Scott said. The commission's formal opening and first public hearing is set for next Wednesday, July 23, at Brisbane Magistrates Court. A spokesperson for the commission said it was committed to hearing from people with lived experience. Submissions can be made online and public hearings will be held throughout regional Queensland, with those details to be released this month. The commissioner has also had his first regional visit. He recently met with stakeholders during a two-day visit to Townsville, "where there is a significant demand for child safety services", according to the commission's spokesperson. It is not the first time there has been an inquiry into the state's child protection system. Millions of dollars have been spent over the last 25 years on multiple inquiries, resulting in hundreds of recommendations being handed down. The Create Foundation — Australia's peak body representing the 12,500 children and young people in the state's care system — hopes this process will finally result in meaningful change. But in order for that to happen, chief executive officer Imogen Edeson said it must hear the voices of those with firsthand experience. "They talk about coercive practices, constant staff changes, and not feeling at home. Some are left to navigate the system alone." State Minister for Child Safety Amanda Camm also urged those with lived experience to come forward, but warned Queenslanders would be "shocked by the stories" that emerged from the inquiry. Ms Scott, who has had 72 children in her care since 2000, intends to share her firsthand experience. She is calling for more permanent care options, better support for foster carers, and a limit to residential care settings that lack support for young people. Ms Scott said residential care — where there was "no consequences, no consistency" — needed more structure. Ms Scott argued more support for foster carers "when we set rules" could reduce the number of children heading to resi. "Let us make the mistakes … and then let us repair from them, just like a biological parent would," she said. Reflecting on her years in residential care, 20-year-old Dakota McSpadden said having access to support workers with lived experience would make a huge difference to young people in the system. Ms McSpadden will also be advocating for accessible and ongoing mental health support, safe spaces outside hospital, and greater peer connection and emotional support. "If kids knew there's others going through the same thing, they could help each other," she said. The inquiry is due to provide its final report to the state government by November 30, 2026.
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Union interference added $22 million to major Brisbane build site: Premier
The actions of the CFMEU at Brisbane's Centenary Bridge Upgrade job site added $22 million to the project, Premier David Crisafulli claims. Speaking a day after announcing a powerful inquiry into the union's 'thug' culture of bullying and intimidation, Crisafulli said 'direct costs because of the behaviour of the CFMEU', including workplace support and fencing and security to keep officials and protesting workers away from the site, amounted to $22 million. 'I'm not even factoring in the costs of project blowouts because of time and the kind of intimidation … I'm talking about the direct costs on one site because of the behaviour of one union,' Crisafulli told reporters on Monday morning. Crisafulli announced the commission of inquiry on Sunday after a damning 45-page report found the Queensland branch of the controversial building union cultivated a culture of violence, which was 'eagerly executed' by some union organisers, delegates and rank-and-file members. The report, by barrister Geoffrey Watson, found the Queensland union's former leadership Michael Ravbar and Jade Ingham oversaw a culture of abuse and harassment that included threats and intimidation of women and children. The construction and general division of the CFMEU was placed into administration nationwide last year amid claims bikie and organised crime figures had infiltrated the organisation. Crisafulli promised support for witnesses during the inquiry, which was due to begin in August and run for 12 months. 'I'm mindful if we don't do this quickly we run the risk of enabling this behaviour to continue in the shadows,' he said.
The Age
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
Union interference added $22 million to major Brisbane build site: Premier
The actions of the CFMEU at Brisbane's Centenary Bridge Upgrade job site added $22 million to the project, Premier David Crisafulli claims. Speaking a day after announcing a powerful inquiry into the union's 'thug' culture of bullying and intimidation, Crisafulli said 'direct costs because of the behaviour of the CFMEU', including workplace support and fencing and security to keep officials and protesting workers away from the site, amounted to $22 million. 'I'm not even factoring in the costs of project blowouts because of time and the kind of intimidation … I'm talking about the direct costs on one site because of the behaviour of one union,' Crisafulli told reporters on Monday morning. Crisafulli announced the commission of inquiry on Sunday after a damning 45-page report found the Queensland branch of the controversial building union cultivated a culture of violence, which was 'eagerly executed' by some union organisers, delegates and rank-and-file members. The report, by barrister Geoffrey Watson, found the Queensland union's former leadership Michael Ravbar and Jade Ingham oversaw a culture of abuse and harassment that included threats and intimidation of women and children. The construction and general division of the CFMEU was placed into administration nationwide last year amid claims bikie and organised crime figures had infiltrated the organisation. Crisafulli promised support for witnesses during the inquiry, which was due to begin in August and run for 12 months. 'I'm mindful if we don't do this quickly we run the risk of enabling this behaviour to continue in the shadows,' he said.
Sky News AU
6 days ago
- Sport
- Sky News AU
‘Go Queensland': NSW premier to promote Queensland tourism after losing State of Origin bet with Crisafulli
Australia could soon see NSW Premier Chris Minns showing off all Queensland has to offer after losing a State of Origin bet with the Queensland premier. The NSW Premier posted the challenge on social media following the state's Game 1 win, saying the 'losing premier' would appear in a tourism ad for the winning state. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli quickly accepted the challenge in a video posted to social media. 'Do you want to know how confident I am that the Mighty Maroons will win Game 2 and 3,' he said. 'I've agreed to a bet with the New South Wales premier Chris Minns… that the losing state will do a promotion for the other state's tourism.' 'Get ready to hear Chris Minns tell the world how amazing Queensland tourism is.' 'Go those Mighty Maroons.' Before Game 2, the NSW premier admitted the stakes were 'certainly high', but didn't back down from the challenge. 'Go the Blues,' he wrote at the time. Appearing on the Today show in Longreach, prior to the decider, Mr Crisafulli was all ready for a Queensland win. 'Minnsy, if you're watching, start [the ad] here in Longreach, great part of western Queensland,' he said. 'Start your tourism ad for Queensland right here, and then head over to the coast and experience all the things that we have that you don't, like the Great Barrier Reef.' The Maroons snatched a 24-12 victory over the Blues in the decider, securing the NSW premier's fate.
