Ms Kate Duggan:

I thank the Senator. I want to make sure I have captured all of her questions. I will deal with the matter of the death of children in care. Mr. Hone will deal with the out-of-State placements along with Mr. Smyth in terms of the cost perspective. I might get Mr. Hone to clarify the questions she raised about Tavistock.

It goes without saying that the death of any child in State care or known to State care is absolutely horrific. It is a significant trauma for their families, the staff who worked with them and their foster care families. It is important, without in any way trying to position the agency around this, to clarify some of the headlines. Since the agency was established in 2014 right up until this year, there have been 27 deaths of children in care.