Children left vulnerable to harm from domestic violence or ice-using parents will be better protected by a $200 million spend on child safety officers in a plan an expert says will save lives and improve service in the over-burdened system.
Almost 300 new safety officers will be hired during the next two years, which will bring down case loads and and allow more focused interventions, Child safety and domestic violence prevention minister Shannon Fentiman said as she announced the funding package ahead of Tuesday's state budget.
"That means better response times for our families, it means better engagement with families and it means better protection for children who are at risk," she told reporters on Saturday.
"We are making this huge investment to support our frontline staff."
The announcement comes as rates of domestic violence are increasing, with Ms Fentiman also saying about a third of children needing protection in the past year had a parent who was using the drug ice.
"The work is getting harder, we are spending more time with families, that's why we need more child safety hitting the ground to keep our kids safe," she said.
About $7.5 million will be used to help families harmed by ice addiction.
"We want to make sure support is there for families so they can get the facts, develop strategies and find out where to access help and support," Ms Fentiman said.
The opposition has called the plan "too little too late".
"It's not about how much money you throw at the system, it's about having the right people, with the right skills in the right place," LNP child safety spokeswoman Ros Bates said.
Child safety expert Professor Karen Healy said hiring additional officers would help save lives and stop kids being removed from families.
"The system has been stretched by an increasing number of children coming into care," she said.
The government will speak with experts across the state as they determine where to send the workers but Ms Fentiman indicated they would focus on areas with heavy ice use.
