· Queenslanders facing another day without answers from Labor about the deaths of two children in care
· When will Shannon Fentiman take responsibility for the failings of her Department?
· Curtis Powell, Mason Lee and Tialeigh Palmer are gone, but Minister still covering up the truth

Queenslanders are again facing another day without answers from the Palaszczuk Government about the deaths of two Queensland children in the care of the State’s Child Safety Department.

LNP Child Safety spokesperson Ros Bates said the death of 10 year old Curtis Powell in Brisbane last year and new revelations about the events leading up to the death of Caboolture toddler Mason Lee had been brushed off by Labor Minister Shannon Fentiman.

“Queenslanders deserve answers from Annastacia Palaszczuk and her Minister about the death of Curtis Powell who was known to the Child Safety Department,” Ms Bates said.

“This little boy was under a protection order meaning Shannon Fentiman’s department was supposed to be looking after him.

“It’s not acceptable for this Minister to sheet home all the blame for his death to his carers when her Department had a critical role in keeping him safe.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk claims to be open and transparent and yet she has time and again allowed her Minister to cover up how children in care are dying.

“I call on the Labor Government to release both the internal and the external child death review panel report into Child Safety’s handling of the case involving Curtis Powell.

“I understand this Labor minister is today claiming there were no system failures that led to Curtis’s death – well that’s the same thing she said about little Mason Lee and now there are three fully-blown investigations underway into his death.”

Ms Bates said revelations today that the handling of Caboolture toddler Mason Lee’s case may have been bungled because his caseworker left after making bullying complaints was further evidence that the state’s child safety system was in crisis.

“If these disturbing allegations are true and Mason Lee’s case simply fell through the cracks, then Labor has a lot to answer for,” she said.

“This Minister keeps saying the child safety system’s not broken, well what more evidence does she need?

“Why are we only now hearing about this total dysfunction in a child safety centre. Shannon Fentiman and Annastacia Palaszczuk have a lot to answer for.”