Breaking: Almost as many children in residential care in Qld as rest of country combined

Queensland Commission of Inquiry makes 52 recommendations to state government Wed 3 Jun 2026 at 3:16pm Children under the age of five will be removed from residential care in Queensland, the child safety minister says, following a major inquiry. The state's Commission of Inquiry into Child Safety made 52 recommendations to the government to address what it called serious failures. The inquiry was announced by the state government last year to review and fix issues across the child safety sector, including inadequate care for thousands of Queensland children and soaring costs. In February, the government brought forward the commission’s reporting deadline, and its report was handed to the government on May 22. Recommendations include considering increasing access to adoption in Queensland, redesigning and restructuring the department, overhauling licensing of providers, simplifying child protection orders and putting children's best interests at the centre of case officers' decision making. Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm told parliament Queensland had 2,258 children in residential care, including 78 under the age of five. "I have made a policy decision no children under the age of five are to remain in residential care," she said. Ms Camm told parliament Queensland had 13,568 children living in out-of-home care. "By far the largest number of children in care anywhere in our nation,"she said. Releasing the report today, Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the government would establish a cabinet sub-committee with the government to respond to the report within two months. "To the many people who made a submission and gave evidence, please know we not only admire your courage but we honour it," she said. "In telling your stories, an often harrowing process, your trust and candour has been invaluable. What's more, it will lead to action." Ms Camm said the commission also found 67 per cent of reported incidents of sexual abuse made to the Department of Child Safety involved children placed in residential care. "Some of the findings in this report should keep Queenslanders awake at night," she said. Over 10 months almost 50 hearings were held across Cairns, Brisbane and Townsville. Ms Camm said she was "horrified at how former government has failed our most vulnerable children". At the final hearing last month, Commissioner Paul Anastassiou KC told the inquiry he hoped there would be less talk and more action. Mr Anastassiou said he hoped the system would be refocused on the best interests of the 12,500 children in care and the "villains" causing harm to children. Ms Camm said the challenges facing the system "did not emerge overnight". "They have developed over many, many years, and they will require serious reform that will take time," she said. "We are prepared to confront difficult truths and make the decision necessary to improve outcomes for children and ultimately break the cycle." Loading