Chris Minns must exclude religious and for profit providers from the child protection system after an example of ‘legalised homophobia’ was revealed in court, said the union which represents workers in the child protection sector.
In the case the aunt of an at risk infant girl was excluded from being her long term carer due to her sexuality. The infant's mother has addiction and mental health issues. The child is currently being cared for by non-family members.
The nine-month-old’s case is being managed by child protection contractor Anglicare Sydney.
The NSW anti-discrimination act provides exceptions which allows faith-based foster care and adoption services to exclude same-sex couples as carers due to their faith’s teachings against homosexuality.
For over a decade some child protection services have been subcontracted out to for profit and religious providers who receive a payment to provide the services.
Troy Wright, Assistant General Secretary of the Public Service Association (PSA) says it’s time to admit the experiment with external providers has failed.
“A child being taken away from her family because a religious group doesn't like gay people is appalling and proof allowing religious groups into our state’s child protection system has failed,” said Mr Wright.
“These are vulnerable children, the most vulnerable in the state, they need care from properly resourced and trained child protection workers directly accountable to the Minister for Families and Communities, not religious zealots or business people trying to turn a profit.
“At the very least Chris Minns must close the loophole in the state’s laws which allows for ‘legalised homophobia’ against family members who want to care for their nephews and nieces by religious groups in our child protection system
“Our union supports the review into this case by the Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington, this is a good start, but the only real solution is to dismantle this sick system where vulnerable children are handed over to religious groups and business people trying to turn a profit,” said Mr Wright.
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