Qld: Beattie labels unacceptable latest child safety fiasco

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2005
Qld: Beattie labels unacceptable latest child safety fiasco

By Chris Herde

BRISBANE, Dec 21 AAP - Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has ordered an inquiry into
why a teenage ward of the state lived for weeks in the same house as notorious paedophile
Dennis Ferguson.

Mr Beattie has asked the Department of Child Safety to explain why the 17-year-old
girl was found in a house at Miles, in western Queensland, when Ferguson was also living
there.

The arrangement was discovered on November 10, the same day Ferguson, 57, was charged
with the indecent assault of two girls, aged 4 and 5.

The girl, who was almost 18 at the time, had a history of absconding from foster carers
and then not telling the department where she was.

It is understood the girl went to Miles to live with her aunt and uncle - who were
not registered carers - with the knowledge of her mother.

Mr Beattie said the department did everything it could to "keep track" of the teenager
and removed her as soon as her whereabouts were known.

He said managing older teenagers is difficult for authorities as well as parents.

"But I'm not making excuses," Mr Beattie said.

"I will make the point that no that is not acceptable and the department will have
to explain that to the minister.

"We want a full report as to what happened here."

Ferguson was jailed for 14 years in 1988 for kidnapping three children and sexually
molesting them in a Brisbane motel.

He is currently in jail awaiting a court hearing in Brisbane next month over the latest charges.

Child protection advocate Hetty Johnston called on the Police and Corrective Services
Department to establish a more comprehensive monitoring system for paedophiles released
from prison.

The Bravehearts chief executive said she did not believe Queensland Child Safety Minister
Mike Reynolds should be blamed.

"It's about time we started protecting our children from people like Ferguson and find
better ways to monitor paedophiles in the community," she said.

"There has been a breakdown in the system but I don't think the minister should be
held responsible."

Liberal Leader Bob Quinn said the latest revelation was a "disturbing occurrence".

He called on Police and Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence to fast track a review
into electronic bracelets and other technology to monitor paedophiles.

"We already have registers for paedophiles but that isn't effective in monitoring the
whereabouts of such people," Mr Quinn said.

AAP ch/sc/jt/sp

KEYWORD: FERGUSON NIGHTLEAD

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