by Talhia Roberts

Created on: October 29, 2008

In September 2007 9-year-old Lachlan and thirteen year-old Kathryn were forcibly and illegally removed from their mother's care by the Inala (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) Department of Child Safety and placed in the care of their father and step-mother. At the time the children's mother, Tanya held Family Law Court Orders giving her full residency of both children. The Department of Child Safety did not take out any other legal orders nor did they override the Family Law Court Orders current at the time of their illegal and immoral intervention.

Lachlan who suffers from multiple disabilities was assaulted by an officer during their physically abusive removal of Lachlan from his family home. Kathryn was collected from her school by departmental officers and advised that her mother never wanted to see her again and that she would be residing with her father and step-mother. Tanya is aware of this as Kathryn later relayed this information to her in a tearful situation where Kathryn apologised for believing that her mother didn't want her.

Tanya was escorted by police to a psychiatric hospital where she was able to discharge the same day. By the time she returned home, her children were gone.

Child safety officers from the Inala Child Safety Office had previously advised Tanya in 2004 that she was to ensure that Kathryn and Lachlan were to have no further contact with their father and step-mother due to the level of ongoing violence in their family home. Additional to this advice was a warning; that should Tanya not act protectively and allowed Kathryn and Lachlan to have access with their father and step-mother, both children would be removed from her care.

On 17 September 2007 during a meeting between Tanya and a child safety officer Tanya was advised that both children would now reside with their father and step-mother and that she was to have nothing more to do with her children. She advised the officer that she had legal residency of both children but the officer advised her that the father claimed that there were no Family Law Court Orders in place. A copy was provided to the child safety officer.

The officer, Rod, advised Tanya that if she attempted to have any contact with her children the police would be called and she would be prevented from having contact. Rod advised that he was happy with the decision that he had made and that he believed in this case it was a good outcome for all. He advised Tanya that it would be to her disadvantage to make a formal

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