Foster children living in cold, squalid 'fire trap', Opposition leader alleges in Parliament

The Tasmanian Government is investigating complaints a family of foster children in the North West was forced to live in a "fire trap" house that had maggots in the fridge and no heating.

The State Opposition used the first Parliament Question Time of the year to air allegations against not-for-profit residential care provider Key Assets.

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Opposition Leader Bryan Green asked Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma if she was aware of a complaint against Key Assets.

Mr. Green told Parliament the provider was being paid thousands of dollars by the Government but the money was not flowing to carers.

"Some carers are being paid as little as $35 a day for each child and being asked to live in intolerable circumstances," he said.

"In a letter of complaint written to you, the foster parents of six vulnerable siblings from one family tell you they were placed in a four-bedroom house in Burnie in a second story building with windows that wouldn't open — in other words a fire trap — and when they moved in, the fridge was infested with maggots.

"Why are these families being asked to cope with these unacceptable circumstances?"

'Allegations are being investigated'

Ms. Petrusma told Parliament she was made aware of the allegations on Friday.

"These are allegations that are being investigated by the department, and due process will be followed because we are not going to conduct a kangaroo court," she said.

"Any time any allegations in regards to any child, because the child's welfare is of upmost concern, are made they are taken very seriously."

Ms. Petrusma said Key Assets had 56 children in its care.

She was also asked whether the Government had severed financial ties with for-profit provider Safe Pathways.

All children in its care were removed earlier this year following allegations of neglect aired on Four Corners.

The Minister said a process was underway to end contracts with Safe Pathways, but it had not been finalized.

Siblings 'love' their 'mansion': Key Assets

In response to Mr. Green's allegations, Key Assets' Tasmanian director Caroline Brown said the organization had "not received any complaints of maggots in a fridge".

She denied there was a house with stuck windows that was a fire trap.

"In one house, which is a Housing Tasmania property, some of the upstairs windows are painted shut from previous tenants. However, the house has a fire escape which outweighs the temporarily closed windows, which are due to be fixed by Housing Tasmania," she said.

Ms. Brown said the family of foster children cited by Mr. Green "loved" their foster home, which has two heat pumps to keep it warm.

"The six siblings love the house and describe it as a mansion," she said.

"It has six bedrooms and a games room.

"The house also has two heating pumps, which can be expensive but Key Assets acknowledges this and pays the electricity bills," she said.

Ms. Brown said Key Assets prided itself on providing "quality support to our carers".

"The decision by the carers to no longer continue as foster carers were disappointing, but we know that foster care can be challenging and that it's not for everyone," she said.

"In saying that, it can also be the most rewarding thing you will ever do."