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Police Check Backlog Causes Delays For GippslandersGippsland has been affected by the backlog of 90,000 police checks yet to be conducted for volunteers and employees working with children and the vulnerable. By Phillip Davis - 9th May 2006 - Back to News Liberal Member for Gippsland Province Philip Davis said today that Bracks Government mismanagement during the Commonwealth Games had resulted in 90,000 police check applications for volunteers and employees working with children and vulnerable Victorians yet to be processed.
Mr Davis said the Liberal Party continued to receive reports from frustrated organisations and individuals who were waiting for their own police checks to be processed.
"Major public training organisations are reporting long delays in having their trainees approved for employment, costing immeasurable time and money," Mr Davis said.
"Thorough police checks on individuals applying to work or volunteer in sensitive areas, particularly those involving direct contact with children and vulnerable individuals, are essential for the safety for all Victorians are not negotiable.
"However an excessive delay in the processing of police checks like the one Victoria faces now is unacceptable."
Mr Davis said predictions that the backlog will take about 11 weeks to clear could cost jobs.
"These delays will not only cause serious staffing problems for many Gippsland organisations, but will ultimately cost local jobs if individuals to not have their police checks carried out with a reasonable time," Mr Davis said.
"The effects of these delays on the health and aged care sectors could be overwhelming considering that every doctor, nurse, trainee health professional and hospital support worker must have mandatory police checks conducted before they can start work."
Urgent, targeted action is needed to stem this crisis, Mr Davis said.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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