E-Petition

Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House the lack of screening required for people to gain employment as childcare workers. Under the current system offenders can obtain a blue card and work with children if they have no convictions and can pass police and other disciplinary checks. There is also a lack of surveillance in childcare centres. This provides black spots that are not covered by CCTV cameras where child abuse can take place.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to do all in its power to ensure stricter requirements for screening potential employees such as psychological testing and character references. We also request laws be created that require day care centres to install enough CCTV cameras to ensure there are no black spots where offenders can hide with children. Staff toilets may be an exception, however the entrance must be under surveillance and it should be an offence to take children into those areas. Footage must be of suitable quality and filmed with good lighting to ensure offending can be identified. It must be held for a minimum period of time in a secure off site location with an independent provider where it cannot be modified or deleted by staff. Further requirements to ensure footage can be used as evidence should also be enforced.