Investigation launched into 'horrific' cases of alleged child neglect

The Queensland Child and Family Commission will investigate two cases of "horrific" alleged neglect of vulnerable children in Brisbane this week.

Child Safety Minister Di Farmer announced the independent investigation on Friday after the death of four-year-old Willow Dunn and discovery of two teenage boys at a home in Stafford.

In a statement, Ms Farmer said she had contacted Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath to ensure the investigation would began "as quickly as possible".

"I know the community wants answers about these two horrific incidents and so do I," she said.

"There is absolutely no excuse for the neglect of children in our community."

The investigation will be carried out by Commissioner Cheryl Vardon and take place "completely at arms-length" from the government.

"I expect Queensland's Child and Family Commission will make recommendations on how the system can be improved and they will receive the government't full consideration," Ms Farmer said.

The investigation comes less than two months after a damning review of the department's complaint system by Queensland Ombudsman Phil Clarke, which identified issues including misclassification and under-reporting.

The report also declared the complaint system was "unnecessarily complex and confusing" and leads to "frustration and delay".

It followed a earlier calls for an overhaul of system from the coroner and auditor-general.

An answer to an LNP question on notice in January revealed 6453 reports of abuse and neglect were not acted upon in time between January and June of 2019 - or an average of 35 each day.

Addressing media on Friday afternoon, Ms Farmer refused to comment on whether either of the cases arising this week had been brought to the attention of her department.

She said the investigation would find out "where and if the system failed these young people".

"We are going to get the answers," Ms Farmer said. "And whatever the commissioner recommends to us needs to be done, that is what we will do."

Ms Vardon said work had “already begun” alongside investigations from police and other agencies, with a report ready to be handed to the government in as early as six weeks.

This would also be recommended for public release in some form, bearing in mind the privacy of the families involved.

“I would imagine … we’re going to pull in extra resources to do this as quickly as possible,” Ms Vardon said.

“I always recommend that the public is given as much information as possible.”