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Bullying link probed in Mason Lee case

Queensland Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman says possible bullying links are being investigated in the handling of the Mason Jet Lee child death case.

Queensland child Mason Jet Lee
Possible bullying links are being investigated in the handling of the Mason Jet Lee death case. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Problems with bullying in the Caboolture office of Queensland's Department of Child Safety may have led to the case of toddler Mason Jet Lee being overlooked.

Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman has confirmed two reviews into her department are looking at whether the departure of Mason's case worker, who left after making a bullying complaint, affected the handling of the toddler's case.

"Certainly that is something the expert child death review panel will consider and it's also something the Family and Child Commissioner is looking at in her review," she said at a press conference on Thursday.

"Both those reviews will be published."

The 22-month-old was found dead at his Caboolture home in June as a result of inflammation from a ruptured small intestine.

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His mother Anne Maree Lee, stepfather William Andrew O'Sullivan and a third man, Ryan Hodson, have been charged with manslaughter for failing to provide him with medical treatment.

Twelve staff from Child Safety's Caboolture office have been referred for possible disciplinary action over his death and four were immediately stood down.

Opposition child safety spokeswoman Ros Bates said there had been "a big issue" with the Caboolture office for a long period of time.

"I've been in Caboolture; there are a lot of families in dire need in that area," she told reporters on the Gold Coast.

"The staff have been completely inundated and they haven't been supported by this minister."


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