Department contradicts minister on girls' safety

Victoria's Community Services Minister Lisa Neville is at the centre of a mounting controversy over the safety of three vulnerable young girls.

Ms Neville insists the youngsters are in good hands and all their carers are "in the clear", but her department has flatly contradicted her, acknowledging one of those carers is a known sex offender.

Last night the girls' grandmother told the ABC the Department of Human Services (DHS) had forgotten to extend a protection order over the children, who were in the care of their drug-affected mother.

But Ms Neville maintains that the three girls are safe and well despite her department's mistake.

The Minister says DHS carried out background checks on everyone who cares for the children regularly.

"Those checks are all clear," Ms Neville said.

But that directly contradicts the Minister's department.

The ABC has confirmed an extended family member who regularly cares for the girls is considered a sex offender by DHS.

Yesterday DHS said it had no record of any allegations against the man.

Today the ABC confirmed DHS has substantiated a sexual abuse allegation against him and the man has been deregistered as a foster carer as a result.

DHS says it has in place agreed protocols with the family to ensure the children are never left alone with the man.

The Opposition will push to urgently reconvene a parliamentary inquiry into child protection next week.

"The Government wouldn't have a clue if these children are safe," Opposition spokeswoman Mary Wooldridge said.

There have been multiple, recent failures exposed in the department that cares for the state's most vulnerable.

"We need answers about why this is happening and what's going to happen in the future to make sure it doesn't happen again," Ms Wooldridge said.

The head of DHS says she will meet with the girls' grandmother to discuss the case.

Source http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/19/3042776.htm?site=melbourne