As we’ve learnt over the past few years, there are many, many things that government can do. The list is almost endless. Yet the list of things that government must do is actually quite short. I know it’s not a fashionable view, yet I’d much prefer governments focused on the latter.

That, of course, is not what happens in Victoria.

We have a radical, activist, socialist government. So, the former list is very long. Forcing boys – all boys – in primary schools to apologise for their (toxic) gender, allowing brothels in every apartment building, spending precious resources for our triple-0 service on diversity training as people die while stuck on hold, and planning a 4-day work week as small businesses continue to go to the wall – to name but a few.

While focussing on these left-wing shibboleths, basic service provision has been neglected. For example, it’s well known that Victoria is in the midst of a health crisis, with almost 100,000 people waiting in pain for vital surgery, like hip and knee replacements. The education system has gone to the dogs, too. Before Covid hit Victorian children received their worst-ever learning outcomes.

Yet the most obvious and egregious example is the state of Victoria’s child protection system. Earlier this week it was revealed that a record 100 young people, known to child protection, have died in the last two years.

At this point I need to declare an interest. I was born into Victoria’s care system in 1983, under a Labor government.

Back then, the care system was properly resourced, competently managed, and overseen by people with a genuine care for the most vulnerable children in society. The Minister when I was born was the formidable Pauline Toner – Victoria’s first female cabinet minister.

Under her permanency was valued, foster carers were respected, and kids who started their life in care were given the message that such humble originals should never hold them back. I owe Labor’s Pauline Toner a great debt.

After being placed in care following having been born to two wonderful (albeit very young) biological parents, I spent some months in foster care. I was then moved into a permanent placement. Ultimately it was this family – my family – who adopted me after a further twelve months, the prescribed period at that time.

At no step of the way could I have been better protected, better supported, better loved. Sadly, much has changed.

Perhaps the most harrowing thing about the record number of child deaths in Victoria over the last two years is that so many of these young people had no support. 71 of the 100 children and youth who died had no assistance as their cases had been closed.

Every one of these children was precious. Every single one could have grown up to make a real contribution to society. But the state failed them, and now they’re dead.

Government, of course, is about priorities. I’m biased, yet I’d be lying if I said I could think of a higher priority than the care of children whose families cannot support them.

In these cases, the state is legally in loco parentis – in the place of parents. Consequently, the state has a moral duty to act as a good parent would.

In Victoria this is not happening. As the peak body, the Centre for Excellent in Child and Family Welfare, has said, far too little is done to support vulnerable families before they reach a crisis point.

Then, once children are in the care system they are not protected, yet further traumatised. Indeed, Victoria’s independent Children’s Commissioner says that these most vulnerable children are routinely preyed upon and raped by paedophile prostitution rings.

Now we learn that record numbers of these young people are dying.

For years it has been widely recognised that Victoria’s child protection system is in a state of crisis and needs urgent reform: a greater focus on early care and prevention, more support – including the slashing of red tape – for foster carers, empowering charities and community organisations to take over roles the state is currently failing at, more mental health and educational support for kids in care, and better linkages to vital services for young people once they exit care.

All of this takes focus. It must be prioritised. But vulnerable children appear to be last on the priority list of the Andrews Labor government. In the last year alone Victoria has had no fewer than four ministers for child protection. The results have been dire.

Systems intended to protect the most vulnerable children in the community can work well. I know this from first-hand experience.

It should shame Victoria’s government that, unlike both Labor and Liberal predecessors, its skewed priorities are elsewhere.

Dr Matt Bach MP, Victorian Shadow Minister for Child Protection

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