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Canberra Today 20°/24° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Libs move against Burch

THE ACT Liberals moved a motion of no confidence against Community Services Minister Joy Burch in the Legislative Assembly this morning, arguing that her directorate breached its own legislation and endangered children in its care.

The Liberals called for the removal of Burch from the portfolio in response to the results of last week’s Public Advocate’s report into the emergency response strategy for children in crisis in the ACT.

However, the motion failed to gain the support of Labor and the Greens, and was amended to a censure motion.

The Public Advocate report stated: “…managerial deficiencies, poor communication and inadequate executive briefing that allowed the breaching of legislation and policies and procedures, that have had a serious and detrimental impact on children for whom the Director General has parental responsibility.? (ACT Public Advocate Interim Report, Emergency Response Strategy for Children in Crisis in the ACT, p8).

ACT Liberals Community Services spokesperson Vicki Dunne said there was no greater failure of a Minister than to put children in harm’s way.

“That’s why today I put forward a motion of no confidence in Joy Burch which resulted in a censure motion. Rarely has there been a no confidence motion about such a grave matter.

“Joy Burch’s directorate knowingly broke its own legislation at least 24 times and put children in harm’s way.

“The buck stops with the Minister and she has utterly failed the children she is responsible for.

“This is a very worrying situation for Katy Gallagher. Under her guidance, with a year to go until the ACT election, serious cracks are showing more and more in her Cabinet.

“This is an absolutely shocking Ministerial breach and one which should be met with the strongest of disciplinary actions. Joy Burch’s incompetence has reached the point where children were placed in danger, which is completely unacceptable and warrants removal from her Ministry.”

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Ian Meikle, editor

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