Despite recognition by COAG that all Australian governments should identify opportunities to reduce the alarming rates of over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australia’s child protection systems, the 2017 Federal Budget has been handed down with no funding secured for the critical priorities of the Family Matters Campaign.
Family Matters Campaign Co-Chair Gerry Moore urges the government to make a commitment to take leadership on this crucial issue at next month’s COAG meeting and work towards a generational target and accompanying strategy to address the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families in child protection systems.
“If we do the same things we will get the same results,’ Mr Moore said today. “We have an escalating crisis in the nation’s child protection systems and we are still on track to triple the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out of home care by 2035. This Budget does nothing to address this.”
“Unless we see an injection of funding to promote preventative measures and the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled services we remain pessimistic about the future of our children” he said.
“It’s a do nothing budget. We need a stronger focus on our children at next month’s COAG meeting so that next year’s budget can lay a stronger foundation for a better future for our children and families.”