I read this article the other day and I was left shocked and amazed that the system seems so flawed; however, all is not lost as now changes to the blue card system in QLD are being considered.
Why and what and I talking about?…..
A man back in 1996 brutally killed his wife, horrifically and brutally and was convicted of manslaughter and served 4 years in jail. The wife had recently left the man and they had an 18 month old son at the time.
His application for a blue card was rejected on his initial application but then, and this is what makes me shake my head in disbelief, he was granted it on appeal to the QLD Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT). The decision states that his criminal history contained no serious offences under the ACT!! The tribunal found following advice from psychologists that they believed he had a low risk of re-offending (and that he had shown no concerning behaviour in jail and had completed all compulsory counselling).
The tribunal found that he did not pose an unacceptable risk to children!! (Seriously??)
However, thankfully this case has made waves and the Community Services Minister has voiced her concern over the matter and is said to now be working on making some changes to the system as a matter of urgency. She (Karen Struthers) immediately asked the Children’s Commissioner to have a look at this specific case and then within 28 days consider the case and appeal the QCAT’s decision. She also asked that if there were any loopholes in the system that she needed to be alerted to and she would bring those issues to the parliament.
It is important to note that not all seem to fall between the cracks like this man.
More than 500,000 people have a blue card in QLD and are monitored by the Children’s Commission.
Is the system a flawed system with loop holes? It is state based is that an issue in itself?