The Australian Children’s Commissioners, Guardians and Advocates (ACCGA) are calling for urgent national action following the release of In Plain Sight, the final report of the Queensland Child Death Review Board Inquiry.
The report highlights longstanding issues across child protection systems, including fragmented accountability, barriers to information-sharing, and the ongoing minimisation of child sexual abuse.
ACCGA members have expressed unified support for transformational reform that strengthens safeguarding systems across Australia and drive sustained systemic and cultural change.
Members are urging Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments to make children’s rights, safety, and wellbeing a National Cabinet priority by:
- strengthening and harmonising child safeguarding laws
- improving cross-jurisdictional collaboration
- establishing a legislated governance framework aligned with Australia’s obligations under the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child.
The In Plain Sight report builds on the findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and presents an important opportunity to strengthen child safeguarding systems. It is hoped this report will act as a catalyst to advance national reformed premised on a zero-tolerance approach to child sexual abuse across Australia.
For more information about the In Plain Sight report, please contact the Queensland Family and Child Commission media team at media@qfcc.qld.gov.au.