"DHS Caseworkers and Misuse of Government Funds – How do we make them accountable."
- Details
- Category: Uncategorised
- Created: Tuesday, 05 March 2013 08:04
- Written by Alecomm2
If each caseworker and its office were made legally responsible (accountable) for their inappropriate actions when it comes to the misuse of legal personnel, prior to providing support and intervention with families, there would be substantial increase in the amount of frivolous law proceedings and the amount of children being taken from good parents would be minimised.
Under the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, it states “Where there occurs a loss of or deficiency in public money or other money while that money is under the control of an officer of an authority, that loss or deficiency shall be a debt due to the Crown or the authority, as the case may require, and may be recovered in a court of competent jurisdiction”. (Source of legislation : http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/pfaaa1983189/s60.html).
So we guess the equation to working out whether or not they wasted the money, was whether the child went home after proceedings, and what action had to be taken in order for the child to be returned. Where DHS had no requirements, apart from their own investigations and the child came home, it is fair to say that the investigation was frivolous, and that if DHS had have provided the appropriate investigation and interventions / support prior to removing the child, that there would have been no court proceedings in the first place. Therefore the officer has caused a loss in public money that was under his authority. This should be just cause to initiate court proceedings by the Commonwealth in order for them to recover their cost - and such actions, would no doubtly ensure that officers in child protection followed protocol to ensure they don't get lumped with a bill each time they remove a child prior to abiding by thier own legislation and guidelines.
