Honest report on CYFS failings must be heeded

The Child Youth and Family report into the Jules Mikus cases of sex offending is an honest account of the deep problems in the department, says National Social Services Spokesperson Katherine Rich.

"Whether the Minister takes heed of the recommendations remains to be seen.

"I hope this report which identifies many problems, admits that "the Department did not perform as well as it should have" and provides a number of workable solutions, does not fall on deaf ears, the way that Mick Brown's report (December 2000) has.

"The Minister can continue to commission all the reports, blueprints, reviews or enquiries he likes. Implementation is what matters and in the fourth year of this Government there has been no measurable progress.

"Unless the Government implements the recommendations from today's report, we run the risk of other Jules Mikuses out there in the community, continuing to rob children of their innocence," Mrs Rich said.

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