As the true local publication, Local Ipswich News is covering the fast-approaching Queensland State Election closely and bringing our readers the important news throughout the campaign.
For the remainder of our campaign covering the State Election, we will be hearing from both major parties who will be fighting to gain the keys to Parliament House.
In the 10th week of this coverage, we are looking at Child Safety, Seniors, and Disability Services and what issues the residents of the electorates of Bundamba, Jordan, Ipswich, and Ipswich West are facing across this portfolio.
The Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services’ vision is for Queensland’s children, young people, seniors, carers, people with disability and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to be safe, empowered in their families, communities and culture and thriving socially and economically.
The department’s objectives are to:
- enable families to safely care for their children and young people, and provide services to support the safety, belonging and wellbeing needs of children and young people not able to be cared for by their families.
- reduce the disproportionate representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system.
- deliver high-quality programs, services and safeguards and promote the inclusion, rights and social and economic participation of seniors, carers, and people with disability.
- implement, influence, and invest in equitable, accessible, and inclusive policies, programs and services that support and empower culturally and linguistically diverse Queenslanders to participate in, benefit from and contribute to the economy and community.
- support the African Youth Support Council’s African villages in Moorooka, Geebung and Redbank Plains to build a sense of belonging, identity, establish strategic partnerships, engage with the system, and build positive relationships in safe spaces for African youth and community members.
Minister for Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Affairs and State Member for Jordan Charis Mullen
Disability Services
We know about 900,000 Queenslanders live with some form of disability. We continue to provide $2.5 billion annually to the NDIS and have committed more than $160 million towards a package of disability reforms as an initial response to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability, as well as the NDIS Review.
Child Safety
The Miles Labor Government is dedicated to supporting our most vulnerable children and young people. In 2024-25, we are investing $2.3 billion in child and family services. Since being elected in 2015, we have employed 518 new Child Safety officers, representing a 58% increase. In the south-west region, that translates to an additional 98 FTE child safety officers.
Seniors
Our Age-Friendly Queensland: the Queensland Seniors Strategy 2024-2029 addresses the needs of our ageing population and serves as the blueprint for achieving an age-friendly state. In the 2024-25 Queensland State Budget, we are allocating $20 million for seniors’ services, including isolation services, legal support, and financial assistance.
Multicultural Affairs
We are proud that Queensland strives to be a unified, harmonious, and multicultural community, a commitment upheld by past and future Labor Governments. Labor Governments have invested more than $133 million in the past 10 years to deliver programs, projects, and events that celebrate and strengthen our multicultural communities. In the past four years, we have dedicated approximately $5 million to multicultural events and programs, ensuring that our diverse community continues to thrive and be celebrated.
LNP Candidate for Ipswich West Georgia Toft
“We need to do all we can to keep our children safe.
I have had numerous conversations with Ipswich West locals who have told me horror stories when it comes to Child Safety not being up to standard.
That is why, if elected, an LNP Government will implement our Safer Children, Safer Communities policy.
The LNP’s Safer Children, Safer Communities plan will boost child safety officers by 20% to provide greater safety for children and the wider community.
Currently, under Labor, many Residential Care facilities only have one worker at any time, which means too many children fall through the cracks as they don’t have adequate care or supervision.
Our Child Safety system needs reform, and the only way to get that change is to vote for an LNP David Crisafulli Government.”
