- A Queensland Child Death Review Board 10-month review found up to five missed opportunities where one of Australia’s worst paedophiles could have been detected if Queensland had a Reportable Conduct Scheme.
- The review identifies shocking system failures under the former Labor Government, including multiple broken promises to introduce a Reportable Conduct Scheme, which left Queensland children exposed and unprotected from sexual abuse.
- The Review has delivered 28 recommendations which will now be considered by the Crisafulli Government.
A 10-month review conducted by the Queensland Child Death Review Board, found one of Australia’s worst paedophiles, Ashley Paul Griffith could have been stopped on five separate occasions, if Queensland had a Reportable Conduct Scheme following the 2017 Royal Commission.
The review confirms there were more than 18 points where the offending could have been detected or disrupted earlier, including 5 missed opportunities where action could have been taken to detect or stop the offender, and 13 events that enabled him to remain undetected.
Despite a recommendation by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2017 to establish a Reportable Conduct Scheme, the former Labor Government broke multiple promises to deliver it, allowing Ashley Paul Griffith to remain undetected until 2023, the report found.
Queensland is one of the last Australian jurisdictions without a Reportable Conduct Scheme, eight years after the Royal Commission recommended it.
The Crisafulli Government has fast-tracked a Queensland Reportable Conduct scheme to commence from 1 July 2026 for all relevant sectors.
The Reportable Conduct Scheme is a legal framework that requires certain organisations to report, investigate, and respond to allegations of child abuse.
In total, the report makes 28 recommendations, including:
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Creating a Child Safeguarding Intelligence Hub
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Combining the Reportable Conduct Scheme, Child Safe Standards, and Working with Children Checks under one regulator, and;
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Improving justice responses and support for victim-survivor support.
Announced just 10 days after the Crisafulli Government took office, the review is the broadest review of Australia’s response to child sexual exploitation since the Royal Commission in 2017 and is the first to consider contemporary issues such as childcare, online predatory behaviour, the darknet and online child exploitation material.
Premier David Crisafulli said the review would now be considered by the Crisafulli Government.
“We promised to shine a light on the State’s broken child protection system and this review has uncovered dark failures,” Premier Crisafulli said.
“These findings will send a shiver down the spine of Queensland parents and we owe it to every family to make the system safer.
“This includes fast-tracking Queensland’s Reportable Conduct Scheme, which Labor never took seriously, because we must deliver stronger safeguards to keep children safe.”
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington said the report exposes unacceptable failures that put Queensland children at risk.
“Every child deserves to be safe, and every parent deserves confidence and trust that the child protection system works. This report shows that under Labor, that trust was broken,” the Attorney-General.
“We launched this review because Queenslanders deserve answers after the horrific crimes of Ashley Paul Griffith went unchecked during Labor’s decade of decline.
“Our message is clear: protecting children is non-negotiable. We are delivering stronger laws, better oversight, and a culture that puts child safety first.”
Child Death Review Board Chairperson Luke Twyford said the review’s report was based on extensive research, stakeholder engagement, and input by experts, as well as victim-survivors, and national and international bodies.
“On behalf of the Board, I am privileged to present a report that confronts the uncomfortable reality of the prevalence of child sexual abuse in Queensland and proposes transformational reforms to better protect Queensland children from harm,” Mr Twyford said.
“I sincerely acknowledge the courage of every victim-survivor and their families who shared their experience in this review. I recognise their hurt, suffering and betrayal, and I hope this report helps in their journey towards healing, while driving change that can benefit many others.
“A system that responds only after harm occurs is not one that protects children, which is why our recommendations call for transformational reform that delivers a child safeguarding approach in Queensland that connects systems, shares intelligence, builds community confidence to detect abuse, responds appropriately to risks, and better supports healing for those who have experienced harm.”
The Report is available at www.qfcc.qld.gov.au