{"id":26556,"date":"2026-07-02T12:33:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T12:33:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.joshteague.com.au\/?p=26556"},"modified":"2026-08-11T14:01:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T14:01:58","slug":"petition-to-reverse-labors-howler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.joshteague.com.au\/index.php\/2026\/07\/02\/petition-to-reverse-labors-howler\/","title":{"rendered":"Petition to reverse Labor\u2019s howler"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Petition to reverse Labor\u2019s howler<\/span> <\/h1> <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t
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The State Liberals have launched a petition calling on the Malinauskas Labor Government to reverse its short-sighted decision to scrap a Social Worker Registration Scheme.\u00a0<\/p>

Shadow Minister for Child Protection Laura Henderson said Labor has undone years of hard work by turning its back on the scheme, which was recommended after a coronial inquest into the\u00a0 tragic death of four-year-old Chloe Valentine in 2012.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cIt is shameful that this Labor Government tried to sneak through this announcement on a Friday afternoon without consulting Chloe Valentine\u2019s family,\u201d\u00a0Mrs Henderson said.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cStakeholders are telling me they were absolutely blindsided and are baffled as to why they found out via the media.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cThis is a real slap in the face to those who spent years advocating for the important reform, which would have seen South Australia lead the nation in the regulation of social work.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cThe scheme would have ensured that high-risk work with our state\u2019s most vulnerable was only carried out by those who are suitably educated and experienced.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cIt is not too late for the Government to change its mind\u00a0\u2013\u00a0and that\u2019s precisely what we\u2019re calling for with this petition.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

The Malinauskas Labor Government had committed $4.7 million to support the establishment and implementation of the scheme. In 2024, then Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard said it would bring\u00a0\u201cwell-deserved benefits, respect and support to the social work profession\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>

Shadow Attorney-General Josh Teague said the Government\u2019s decision has devastated Chloe\u00a0 Valentine\u2019s grandmother, who spent years advocating for the scheme.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cBelinda Valentine fought tirelessly to make sure children never have to experience what Chloe went through, and this decision undermines that important legacy,\u201d\u00a0Mr Teague said.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cThis scheme was about ensuring social workers met consistent professional standards and giving vulnerable children and families the protections they deserve.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cThe Premier should listen to social workers, listen to Chloe\u2019s family and reverse this decision before more damage is done.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

The\u00a0\u2018Stop the\u00a0 Scrap\u2019\u00a0petition to can be signed\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t

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The State Liberals have launched a petition calling on the Malinauskas Labor Government to reverse its short-sighted decision to scrap a Social Worker Registration Scheme.\u00a0<\/p>

Shadow Minister for Child Protection Laura Henderson said Labor has undone years of hard work by turning its back on the scheme, which was recommended after a coronial inquest into the\u00a0 tragic death of four-year-old Chloe Valentine in 2012.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cIt is shameful that this Labor Government tried to sneak through this announcement on a Friday afternoon without consulting Chloe Valentine\u2019s family,\u201d\u00a0Mrs Henderson said.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cStakeholders are telling me they were absolutely blindsided and are baffled as to why they found out via the media.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cThis is a real slap in the face to those who spent years advocating for the important reform, which would have seen South Australia lead the nation in the regulation of social work.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cThe scheme would have ensured that high-risk work with our state\u2019s most vulnerable was only carried out by those who are suitably educated and experienced.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cIt is not too late for the Government to change its mind\u00a0\u2013\u00a0and that\u2019s precisely what we\u2019re calling for with this petition.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

The Malinauskas Labor Government had committed $4.7 million to support the establishment and implementation of the scheme. In 2024, then Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard said it would bring\u00a0\u201cwell-deserved benefits, respect and support to the social work profession\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>

Shadow Attorney-General Josh Teague said the Government\u2019s decision has devastated Chloe\u00a0 Valentine\u2019s grandmother, who spent years advocating for the scheme.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cBelinda Valentine fought tirelessly to make sure children never have to experience what Chloe went through, and this decision undermines that important legacy,\u201d\u00a0Mr Teague said.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cThis scheme was about ensuring social workers met consistent professional standards and giving vulnerable children and families the protections they deserve.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cThe Premier should listen to social workers, listen to Chloe\u2019s family and reverse this decision before more damage is done.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

The\u00a0\u2018Stop the\u00a0 Scrap\u2019\u00a0petition to can be signed\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t

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The scheme would have ensured that high-risk work with our state\u2019s most vulnerable was only carried out by those who are suitably educated and experienced.\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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