Human Questions Print
Written by Administrator   

Editorial
Herald Sun Melbourne
P24 January 24 2007.

"The Job of Department of Human Services often demands the wisdom of Solomon when dealing with the sad human cases brought to its attention.

But too often the department displays a reluctance to intervene until its is too late. The latest example concerns a woman accused of stabbing a nine-year-old boy at West Brunswick. We are told the woman cannot be brought before a court because of her mental state.

But the department waited a week to move her from the house in which she lived with her mother near the boy's house.

And then they only moved her after a public outcry.

The department says the woman will be monitored, which may not reassure her new neighbours. Victorian government policy is that people with mental problems should live in the community rather than in institutions.

This is compassionate, but it demands tough criteria to assess risks to others."