The Canberra Liberals have lashed out at frontline child-protection workers involved in the most recent controversy to engulf Care and Protection Services.
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Liberals frontbencher Vicki Dunne accused workers of ''unconscionable conduct'' and the ACT Government of covering up for Care and Protection staff in its response to a stinging critique by the Public Advocate.
But the Public Advocate, who authored a report last month on Care and Protection's activities, said yesterday she was pleased with the Government's response to her criticism.
The Community Safety Directorate came in for harsh criticism from the Advocate, Anita Phillips, after 24 at-risk children were put in the care of a non-government agency that had not been properly vetted.
Some of the children went hungry, slept on the floors of a freezing house in the depths of a Canberra winter and were subjected to ''appalling'' denials of their rights because of management failures by child-protection services, according to the Advocate.
After Community Service Minister Joy Burch went public with her response to the Advocate's report yesterday, announcing an overhaul of Care and Protection Services, Ms Phillips said she was pleased with the Government's response to her recommendations.
But Mrs Dunne was not happy, accusing the Government of a ''cover-up'' in releasing the report on the day of Chris Bourke's elevation to cabinet.
''This is not a Government response, this is a cover-up of unconscionable behaviour by Care and Protection officers,'' Mrs Dunne said,
''What we've been seeing for the past couple of weeks is the minister saying 'there's nothing here to see and the reason we're seeing this report released today is that they're trying to cover it up.''
Ms Phillips welcomed the Government's plan.
''The interim report revealed that all staff, from case workers to senior management, were struggling to cope with the workload and pressures in such a complex environment,'' the Advocate said.
''They deserve Government support and changes that will facilitate their operations. I credit the minister, and the directorate, with having the courage to take the interim report seriously, and accepting the findings.''
Ms Burch said her department would set up a dedicated reception centre for youngsters and a specialised home for families at risk as part of wide-ranging reforms to child-care and protection services.
A senior bureaucrat in the Office for Children, Youth and Family Support will be made responsible for reforming the process of out-of-home care.
''The Government has already undertaken significant initiatives to recruit staff to meet the significant shortfalls currently being experienced, and our recent overseas recruitment campaign has resulted in the recruitment of more than 40 additional staff by March 2012,'' Ms Burch said.
''However, it is also vital that staff, once recruited, be retained in care and protection. To achieve this, the Government will introduce a retention bonus for frontline care and protection staff who remain in the program for fixed periods of time.''
