Human Services Minister Roger Jaensch says he would consider the partial release of an independent report into a family support program under sustained scrutiny during budget estimates hearings this week.
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On Wednesday, Labor MHR Michelle O'Byrne questioned whether the program was working, citing two cases of children who died and were injured in out of home care.
Labor MLCs Josh Willie and Sarah Lovell continued the line of questioning on Thursday morning, with Mr Willie suggesting Mr Jaensch was intent on "covering it up".
A 12-month pilot of the Intensive Family Engagement Service - delivered in partnership with Child Safety Services - was initiated in February 2018. It was to engage families for up to six months with the aim to reduce the placement of children in out of home care.
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Mr Willie asked if, in one of those cases, in particular, the family had received the obligated level of support.
"I'm not going to be providing any detailed response on any individual cases," Mr Jaensch said. He confirmed 62 families had been supported by the program to date.
An evaluation of the program was conducted by the University of Tasmania, which Mr Jaensch confirmed had looked into whether the system was meeting obligations for the number of support hours provided to families.
"I am happy to release the report, but without any content that may identify live cases or individuals," Mr Jaensch told the hearing. He said this could be as soon as "a couple of days" but would seek the department's advice.
Throughout the hearing, its chair, Independent Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest, attempted to steer questioning away from the individual cases, which Mr Jaensch reiterated he could not comment on.
Yesterday, Ms O'Byrne suggested a child who was discharged from Royal Hobart Hospital and supposedly in receipt of IFES, had "died under his watch" and would be less concerned if she "thought it might be a once off".
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