Australia: Victorian Children's Minister unsure of checks on children

Link to article here. Excerpt:

'Victorian Children's Minister Lisa Neville admits not knowing how many times her department has checked on three children - one of whom accidentally took an ecstasy tablet - since they were reunited with their mother.

The children's grandmother, who cannot be identified, told ABC Television on Monday her three grand-daughters, all aged under eight, have been exposed to violence, criminal activity, drug use and sexual abuse in their mother's care.

The woman says her daughter is not capable of looking after the children, who were placed in care of the Department of Human Services (DHS) - when the youngest child accidentally took ecstasy - but were returned to their mother in March.

She said the girls at times went for days without food.

The woman said that in April, a Victorian DHS officer told her that the department had "forgotten" to apply to court for a new protection order allowing its workers access to the children.'