Queensland Premier David Crisafulli on Monday announced the "broken" child protection system will be examined by Luke Twyford, chair of Queensland's Child Death Review Board.
Luke Twyford will inquire into Queensland's child protection and blue card system. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)
Mr Crisafulli said the system has been in shambles for years and the case of Ashley Paul Griffith shone a light on how Queensland's most vulnerable can be preyed upon.
Former childcare worker Griffith was given a life sentence and a non-parole period of 27 years in 2024 after pleading guilty to hundreds of sexual offences spanning almost 20 years.
Griffith had pleaded guilty to 307 offences, including ongoing sexual abuse and making child exploitation material, against 65 victims aged one to nine beginning in 2003.
He pleaded guilty to 28 counts of rape against girls primarily aged three to five at childcare centres in Queensland between 2007 and 2022.
"The failures in the child protection system go back many years and there have been many vulnerable children who had some of the most horrendous things occur because of that broken system," the premier told reporters on Tuesday.
"But when it comes to the case of Ashley Paul Griffith ... it was the most horrific of crimes.
"It highlighted failures in the system. More of the same isn't going to cut it, and we are taking action."
The review will begin immediately with Mr Twyford set to use special powers granted to the board in obtaining information from the Australian Federal Police, Queensland Police Service and Department of Education.
Premier David Crisafulli said the Griffith case highlighted failures in the system. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)
That information is protected by legislation which the board falls under, protecting its confidentiality or exposure of relevant parties unless legally compelled to do so.
"This will be a broad-ranging review," Mr Twyford said.
"I am particularly concerned about how we prevent child sexual exploitation in Australia, as well as how we identify, detect and respond to it.
"Ensuring that our blue card system is part of a broader safeguarding system that includes reportable conduct and a child safety standard system, as recommended by the royal commission in 2017, is of equal importance to me."
Elements of the review will be ceased should they jeopardise the prosecution or appeal process of Griffith, who has lodged an appeal on the grounds his sentence was manifestly excessive.
A review into Queensland's blue card system - for checking people wanting to work with children - was undertaken in 2017 by the former Labor government.
"The world is far different to 2017," Mr Twyford said.
"I think if there are open recommendations from them, this review is a great way to retest whether they are still needed and what implementation needs to occur."
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