The stark reality of vulnerable children sleeping on Queensland government office floors has ignited an intense debate about the state's child protection system. Premier David Crisafulli has confirmed that his Liberal National Party (LNP) administration has utilised this approach in early morning scenarios, where no immediate placement options were available.
This move follows reports of children being removed from their homes without prior arrangements for alternative accommodation, prompting sharp criticism. Shadow Treasurer Shannon Fentiman is calling for an investigation into whether the Department of Child Safety has breached its duty of care towards these children.
The Together union, representing public sector workers in Queensland, claims that this practice is becoming increasingly common, citing instances where children slept overnight on air mattresses at centres in Toowoomba and Ipswich West. With approximately 12,500 children in out-of-home care – the highest number across Australia – and a nation-leading residential care industry, Queensland's child protection system appears stretched to its limits.
The practice of using public service offices for emergency accommodation has been in place since 2019, typically when short-term alternatives like hotels could not be secured. Critics, including Youth Advocacy Centre CEO Katherine Hayes, argue that housing high-needs children in office environments is deeply traumatising and only exacerbates feelings of uncertainty and instability.
Recent government reforms – including a ban on housing under-fives in hotels and the cancellation of contracts with unlicensed care providers – are being cited by some as contributing factors to the increased reliance on office spaces, a claim denied by Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm. The Queensland government's decision has sparked an urgent need for clarification and reassessment of its child protection policies.