MP Neville faces new calls to quit ministry

Bellarine MP Lisa Neville has again come under renewed pressure to resign as she fights two scathing reports of her department’s failings.
An Ombudsman’s report found that her Department of Human Services had failed to provide a secure and safe environment for children in the out-of-home care system.
An Opposition Freedom of Information investigation also revealed that 63 out of 553 children in care in the Barwon South West region had experienced multiple placements, creating further instability in their lives.
The Ombudsman’s investigation found numerous instances of children sexually assaulted, raped, seriously injured, involved in prostitution and exposed to drugs.
“The sexual exploitation of young people in the system has been identified as a significant issue, with incident reports identifying a group of children involved in prostitution and sexual exploitation,” the report said.
The report found that departmental process were not followed in many instances, including the screening of carers – the same failing identified in an earlier Ombudsman’s investigation.
The department had also failed to implement recommendations made in a 2005 Ombudsman’s report.
Opposition leader Ted Baillieu said State Government had ignored warnings “for years”.
“Vulnerable children in this government’s care have been abused, assaulted and exposed to drugs and prostitution,” he said.
“Lisa Neville is really not up to it. She has had precious little impact on this portfolio and left vulnerable children unprotected in this state.
“All we’ve had from Lisa Neville is denial and this report clearly states that the system is in crisis.
“She should go – she should have gone a long time ago.”
Ms Neville said the issues raised in the Ombudsman’s report had been rectified.
The Government would implement all but one of his recommendations, she said.
“The report comes at a time when over 5000 children are being cared for by foster parents, extended families or in residential care every day,” Ms Neville said.
“The Ombudsman recognises that overwhelmingly, children in kinship, foster and residential care in Victoria have benefited from this care.”
Ms Neville said specialist training and higher reporting standards would be implemented.
She announced an extra $4 million in support for foster parents and relatives to offset the cost of schooling for children in their care.