Government's apology to two brothers abused by their father
Sept 9, 2023 6:43:09 GMT 7
Denis-NFA likes this
Post by bear on Sept 9, 2023 6:43:09 GMT 7
The Queensland government's apology to two brothers abused by their father was the easy part. Now the hard work begins.
But it's not a solution, and the Palaszczuk government's swift apology on Tuesday following damning findings from the disability royal commission — although welcome — was lacking in detail about what happens next.
The commission had found the state of Queensland (read: successive governments) could – and should – have done more to prevent two Queensland brothers with intellectual disabilities from enduring violence, abuse, neglect and deprivation of human rights in the care of their father.
The disability royal commission recommended the brothers be compensated.
In politics, saying sorry can bring you instant headlines.
It can be seen as a sign of humility that says: we're listening.
The 222-page report cut through the noise of the daily political cycle, zeroing in on the role of governments and departments that are meant to safeguard our most vulnerable.
It explicitly recommended that the state should apologise.
Disability Services and Child Safety Minister Craig Crawford did so, adding that this should not happen in our state, let alone our country, and pledging "we will do better".
The apology was, arguably, the easy part.
Preventable abuse and neglect
The minister was less forthright when it came to the rest of the royal commission's recommendations, saying the government would consider them and respond in "due course".
A big question explored at the royal commission's hearing was why the siblings, given the pseudonyms Kaleb and Jonathon, experienced preventable abuse and neglect.
The report says attitudes and assumptions about disability were an "overwhelming factor", and gave these examples:
The poor conditions in which the brothers lived were "normalised by others"
There were "low expectations" from Queensland agencies and departments as well as their father and community members about the brothers' capacity to communicate, maintain personal care and hygiene and develop any independent skills
Their father's behaviours were "explained away, excused or accepted" because he was caring for two children with disability
The commission says it was suggested the father was doing a "good job of parenting'" but that he had "different standard to others".
The child safety department's chief practitioner Dr Meegan Crawford told the commission about "positive" unconscious bias and how staff members' feelings of empathy towards parents could be problematic by sometimes causing workers to become hesitant to sufficiently challenge them about their parenting.
Call for an independent review
So if a parent is willing to engage or is a victim-survivor and doing their best, child safety officers could perhaps feel more reassured.
The commission has urged the state to provide training and resources for staff who have any role involving children and young people with disability about bias and discrimination.
Another key recommendation – also still being weighed up – is that Queensland should conduct an independent review into the powers and responsibilities of all the departments and agencies that had contact with the family.
Across 20 years, that included the Department of Education, Department of Housing, Department of Disability Services, Department of Child Safety, Queensland Police, the NDIS, and the Department of Health.
It was suggested this review could examine what each department or agency could, and/or should, have done to prevent the brothers' enduring harm.
The royal commission's public hearing into Jonathon and Kaleb's experiences spanned just three days.
Lawyers for the state pointed out the limitations – arguing the process and procedure did not allow the time and consideration the case study deserved.
The royal commission comments in its report that this illustrates why a more detailed, and independent inquiry, might be warranted.
"An independent inquiry provides a further opportunity to engage in a more detailed review of the circumstances and experiences of Kaleb and Jonathon," the report says.
"It may give rise to broader findings and recommendations directed to what particular Queensland departments and agencies should do to prevent, and better protect, children and young people from experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and a deprivation of their human rights."
It's recommended the review should be launched "at the earliest opportunity".
The state opposition has questioned what the holdup is.
"The fact that nobody in this government has come forward with a reason or an announcement that an independent review will be undertaken immediately or in the past two years since we've seen that correspondence by the attorney-general, I think just demonstrates that this government doesn't want the truth to come out," shadow child safety minister Amanda Camm told reporters on Friday.
The government insists it's focused on making sure what happened to Kaleb and Jonathon "can never happen again".
An apology is one thing, but following through on the recommendations will be key to maintaining public trust.
www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-09/disability-royal-commission-neglect-abuse-ableism/102827366
But it's not a solution, and the Palaszczuk government's swift apology on Tuesday following damning findings from the disability royal commission — although welcome — was lacking in detail about what happens next.
The commission had found the state of Queensland (read: successive governments) could – and should – have done more to prevent two Queensland brothers with intellectual disabilities from enduring violence, abuse, neglect and deprivation of human rights in the care of their father.
The disability royal commission recommended the brothers be compensated.
In politics, saying sorry can bring you instant headlines.
It can be seen as a sign of humility that says: we're listening.
The 222-page report cut through the noise of the daily political cycle, zeroing in on the role of governments and departments that are meant to safeguard our most vulnerable.
It explicitly recommended that the state should apologise.
Disability Services and Child Safety Minister Craig Crawford did so, adding that this should not happen in our state, let alone our country, and pledging "we will do better".
The apology was, arguably, the easy part.
Preventable abuse and neglect
The minister was less forthright when it came to the rest of the royal commission's recommendations, saying the government would consider them and respond in "due course".
A big question explored at the royal commission's hearing was why the siblings, given the pseudonyms Kaleb and Jonathon, experienced preventable abuse and neglect.
The report says attitudes and assumptions about disability were an "overwhelming factor", and gave these examples:
The poor conditions in which the brothers lived were "normalised by others"
There were "low expectations" from Queensland agencies and departments as well as their father and community members about the brothers' capacity to communicate, maintain personal care and hygiene and develop any independent skills
Their father's behaviours were "explained away, excused or accepted" because he was caring for two children with disability
The commission says it was suggested the father was doing a "good job of parenting'" but that he had "different standard to others".
The child safety department's chief practitioner Dr Meegan Crawford told the commission about "positive" unconscious bias and how staff members' feelings of empathy towards parents could be problematic by sometimes causing workers to become hesitant to sufficiently challenge them about their parenting.
Call for an independent review
So if a parent is willing to engage or is a victim-survivor and doing their best, child safety officers could perhaps feel more reassured.
The commission has urged the state to provide training and resources for staff who have any role involving children and young people with disability about bias and discrimination.
Another key recommendation – also still being weighed up – is that Queensland should conduct an independent review into the powers and responsibilities of all the departments and agencies that had contact with the family.
Across 20 years, that included the Department of Education, Department of Housing, Department of Disability Services, Department of Child Safety, Queensland Police, the NDIS, and the Department of Health.
It was suggested this review could examine what each department or agency could, and/or should, have done to prevent the brothers' enduring harm.
The royal commission's public hearing into Jonathon and Kaleb's experiences spanned just three days.
Lawyers for the state pointed out the limitations – arguing the process and procedure did not allow the time and consideration the case study deserved.
The royal commission comments in its report that this illustrates why a more detailed, and independent inquiry, might be warranted.
"An independent inquiry provides a further opportunity to engage in a more detailed review of the circumstances and experiences of Kaleb and Jonathon," the report says.
"It may give rise to broader findings and recommendations directed to what particular Queensland departments and agencies should do to prevent, and better protect, children and young people from experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and a deprivation of their human rights."
It's recommended the review should be launched "at the earliest opportunity".
The state opposition has questioned what the holdup is.
"The fact that nobody in this government has come forward with a reason or an announcement that an independent review will be undertaken immediately or in the past two years since we've seen that correspondence by the attorney-general, I think just demonstrates that this government doesn't want the truth to come out," shadow child safety minister Amanda Camm told reporters on Friday.
The government insists it's focused on making sure what happened to Kaleb and Jonathon "can never happen again".
An apology is one thing, but following through on the recommendations will be key to maintaining public trust.
www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-09/disability-royal-commission-neglect-abuse-ableism/102827366