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'Listen, you pompous twit!'

Posted by: Derryn Hinch | 12 January, 2012 - 3:48 PM

HINCH: I sometimes think I should have a big filing cabinet marked 'What the hell is going on here?'.

Most of the files inside would have the name of a state or federal government agency on them. And the fullest file would be branded with the letters DHS. The Department of Human Services.

Sometimes you read about the dysfunctional activities and weird decisions and actions emanating from that agency and you wonder what their definition of 'human services' actually is.

Some of what they do - or don't do - is inhuman.

I'll ignore the crazy case on page one of the Herald Sun today about a delinquent child, a school bully, who is being taken on an overseas trip as a reward. Even though her own father doesn't think she is ready for such an excursion.

Today's story about the DHS which really makes me burn is one we covered extensively last year.

That was when DHS officials, with a police escort, arrived at the school of three young children and snatched them to get them away from their foster mother. The woman they called Mum. We could never find out why.

They took them more than 200 kilometres away. And caused them – according to a magistrate 'ongoing emotional harm'. These are young children the department is supposed to be protecting.

It gets worse. A Children's Court magistrate has ordered DHS to return those children to their foster mother and accused them 'of an adversarial, win-at-all-costs attitude the likes of which I have rarely seen'.

He accused the department of doing 'whatever it could' to prevent the return of the children and on some occasions had acted irresponsibly or mischievously to prolong court proceedings that kept the family apart.

At an earlier hearing the magistrate warned the department about its recalcitrant attitude and said it could face Supreme Court action.

And he recommended that the children aged seven to 11 be returned immediately.

You'd think after that shellacking the department would move heaven and earth to reunite the foster Mum and the kids. Oh, no.

The DHS lawyer has said the return of the children is not imminent. They have until February 13 to consider an appeal.

And listen to this Department spokesman. The DHS is 'reading the judgment very carefully and we will act in the best interests of the children'.

Listen, you pompous twit, that's another whole month for these kids who have already been traumatised for nearly a year.

Give them back today, you heartless pen-pushing jerk.

3AW NEWS: The Baillieu Government's backing a decision by the Department of Human Services to send a 14-year-old girl in its care on an overseas trip at taxpayers' expense.

The girl, who can't be named, will join other students from her school despite her alleged history of violence, including threats to kill.

Her father is refusing to sign passport documents, saying she shouldn't be rewarded with a free trip.

Acting premier Peter Ryan says it's a difficult issue and decisions have to be made.

Cyber-bullying takes girl's life

A family has been left devastated after a loving, friendly 14-year-old girl took her own life following relentless cyber-bullying. Her death has prompted more than 14,000 Facebook tributes. Click on the image of the teenager on the right for more details on this tragedy.

Media grappling with suicide issue

HINCH BLOG: "I don't understand. I don't understand why Kennett, politicians and the courts will block a TV program, sight unseen and then, when it suits them come on radio and pontificate. Strange." Read more and hear from Professor Patrick McGorry.

Blog comments

http://www.facebook.com/groups/284666598258312/
Thought you maybe interested in this group on Facebook - We are on the other end of the scale Grandparents and in dire straits with DHS

James & Sally Smith Saturday 21 January, 2012 - 5:45 PM
DHS, the worst of the worst, sack them all. As for that bullying being rewarded is an absolute disgrace, hope she acts up in another country and is sent to jail where she belongs.

janet p Saturday 14 January, 2012 - 8:23 AM
Get rid of facebook.Don't look at it.Stop using it.Parents remove it from your computers.People, start talking face to face with everyone.What a gutless way to communicate is facebook.Parents, check up on kids when using computers etc.

ANNA Thursday 12 January, 2012 - 4:28 PM