Dametto asks Minister to guarantee Child Safety paedophile never happens again
9/7/2021 Nick Dametto, Member for Hinchinbrook is disgusted and alarmed at ABC Background Briefing reports that the Queensland Department of Child Safety paid convicted paedophile Bob Montgomery almost $70,000 as an expert psychologist on 21 cases, to assess the risks of paedophiles to children in its care.
“I’ve today written to the Queensland Minister for Children and Youth Justice and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, asking what changes and processes are in place today to make sure this never happens again.
“This makes my skin crawl, that some of our most vulnerable were not only abused, but then those people in power who were meant to defend the rights of the child, let down those they are meant to be protecting.
“This went on under three governments from 2009 to 2016 – the Bligh ALP, Newman LNP and Palaszczuk ALP governments.
“It is just disgusting. It is akin to the fox being in charge of the hen house,” said Mr Dametto.
ABC reports, Montgomery was the one time President of Australian Psychological Society (APS) and a Family Court-appointed expert in custody disputes involving child sex abuse claims. Along with being recruited as the head of Psychology at Bond University by convicted paedophile criminologist Paul Wilson. Montgomery also appeared as a celebrity psychologist on TV shows Big Brother, the Biggest Loser, the 7.30 Report and the Don Lane Show.
“The department needs stronger vetting processes. I have asked the Minister to give the people of Queensland the strongest of assurances and a guarantee that this can never happen again.
“My thoughts are with all the victims and I’m so sorry the government and systems did not protect you.”
Letter to the Queensland Minister for Children and Youth Justice and Minister for Multicultural Affairs to seek assurances that the Child Safety vetting processes have been changed to guarantee a paedophile such as Bob Montgomery is never employed or contracted again by the Department of Child Safety