Child protection

Queensland's child safety department ignored warnings for years while children in its group homes were abused, a commission of inquiry found.

Confidence: Confirmed · 5 sourcesQueensland · Oct 6, 2026

Subject of this story

Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety (Queensland)

Also named

Oversight

Commission of Inquiry into Child Safety (Queensland)

What happened

The Commission of Inquiry into Child Safety, led by Commissioner Paul Anastassiou KC, submitted its final report on 22 May 2026 with 52 recommendations; it was released on 3-4 June 2026. The inquiry found the state had relied too heavily on residential (group-home) care, which grew 229% between March 2015 and March 2025 to nearly 3,000 children, more than all other states combined, at a cost that rose to about $500,000 per child per year; about 67% of reported sexual abuse of children in care involved children in residential care, and First Nations children make up almost half of children in out-of-home care. In its 30 July 2026 response the Queensland government accepted 48 of the 52 recommendations and restated the inquiry's finding that repeated warnings to the department dating back to 2020 had been ignored, leaving vulnerable children at risk.

Sources (5)

Queensland Government Ministerial Media Statements (30 July 2026)The Inquiry found repeated warnings to the Department dating back to 2020 were ignored, allowing serious issues to worsen and vulnerable children to be left at risk; 48 of 52 recommendations accepted (32 in full, 16 in principle).

Queensland Government Ministerial Media Statements (3 June 2026)approximately 67 per cent of reported incidents of sexual abuse of children in care involved children placed in residential care; residential care placements increased 229% between March 2015 and March 2025.

Child Safety Commission of Inquiry (official site, final report)On Friday 22 May 2026 the Commission submitted its final report (PDF, 23.7 MB) to the Government.

SBS / NITVFirst Nations children comprise almost half of all out-of-home care placements despite representing less than 10% of Queensland's child population.

ABC News (Australia)Anastassiou: 'no tweak or tinkering will change the present trajectory of the child protection system.'

Response

Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety (Queensland)

On-record admission

Contacted and made an on-record admission — exact wording not on record.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

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