Adam Jean-Luc Todd "AJ" -

OK here it is. Today Tonight will probably send me a better copy later, but for now I have transcribed and commented.

NSW Department Of Community Services

MEDIA RELEASE

24 September 1998

Child at risk in south western Sydney

DoCS Director-General Carmel Niland said the Department has an obligation to investigate records concerning the safety of vulnerable children under the age of 1.

"The community expects that DoCS will ensure children are safe," she said of a child at risk case in south western Sydney where a man has released video footage of the DoCS officers doing their job.

"This incident could have been avoided if the baby's father had at first communicated with the DoCS staff rather than repeatedly refused to cooperate.

"I could imagine the reaction if DoCS went away and something was to happen to the baby."

The baby was taken until the parents agreed to have the child examined by a doctor. DoCS is awaiting the result of this examination.

Ms Niland said DoCS was acting on a report from a concerned member of the community.

"My District Officers became further concerned for the five month old baby's welfare only after they were refused permission to view the child.

"All that was required was that we get a medical opinion on the child's condition. My DOs were left with no choice but to call the police."

Ms Niland said the coronial inquest last week into the death of a baby who was under one highlighted the need for the community to be vigilant about child safety.

The Coroner expressed concerns that society was willing to turn a blind eye to child safety issues.

If a member of the public has a grievance about the work of DoCS they should lodge their concerns with the DOCS complaint line.

Media enquires to 9716 2884

Lets recap - yet again what happened. (Is this where I have to release even MORE video?)

At around 4:45 PM Suzanne answered a knock at the door. She was teaching a 10 year old child piano, which is one of her jobs.

Suzanne had left the young girl to practise her piano as she had arrived early. (Cheap Child minding? <smile> No she is a great kid!) Suzanne asked the people at the door to wait a moment and came to me. She said "There are some people at the door, I have to feed AJ."

I went to the door and said hello. They asked if I was Adam. I replied yes, can I help you.

They said "We are from the Department of Community services and would like to come in and talk to you."

I asked "What about?" They said "We have received a complaint about your child and wish to discuss it with you." I asked "Can I see some ID please, and what are your names. What is this complaint about?"

I didn't get any ID, I didn't get any names. I did get "We don't talk about complaints on door steps because the neighbours might hear." I said "I don't see any neighbours and I don't let strangers into my house without knowing what and who they are."

"We've already told you we are from the Department of Community services and we have a complaint," said the woman. I asked "Who lodged the complaint?" She said "We can't reveal that for confidentiality reasons." I then asked "Well what is the complaint and then I can make an informed decision as to whether there is anything to discuss. Can I have your names please."

I said "Perhaps you should. You haven't identified yourselves and you haven't given me any information as to allowing me to make an informed decision."

She then said can we just site the baby. Now AJ was being fed and I wasn't going to disturb Suzi and AJ for any reason. Well except fire :)

She said "We have power under the Act to investigate and wish to see the child." (I really hate people calling AJ "the child") I asked her to show me the relevant section of the Act. "I don't have anything with me, "she said turning to her companion, " do you have a copy in the car."

I then asked her to wait. I felt that this kind of round about stupidity needed to be caught more on camera that just audio. So I grabbed the video camera and came back to the door.

DoCS Business Card Presented 4:43 PM 21 Sept

I said "At this time I won't bring anyone to any door until I know who you are and I see some ID," I then asked "Do you have a business card?"

She presented a business card and then said "Well we'll go now and get the police."

I said "I think you had better get a copy of the relevant section of the Act and either fax or call me with details for a meeting and we'll discuss it then. Please feel free to contact me any time."

I note the car was a Silver Ford Sedan. (I'm not great with cars, when the video Capture card from Paul Young arrives and I put the images online, perhaps someone can tell me if I was right.)

I then looked at the card. I've got it posted next to this here. I figure you might as well see what they gave me.

I went to the phone and called the DOCS office in Campbelltown. Very suspicious about who these women were. My phone call commenced at 4:57 and Erin answered the phone.She wouldn't give me her surname. (Hello Erin, I said you'd make it to international fame!)

I asked for the name of the General Manager. She said they didn't have one. I said well who is the manager of the office. She said "Pauline Rockey." I asked her to spell both names for me. I asked if I could talk to Pauline. She said that Pauline was on the phone, and asked my name. I said I didn't want to give it at this point in time, but I had important information to discuss with the manager.

After about 8 minutes I was put through. I asked Pauline if they recorded their telephone conversations. She said "No we don't have that kind of sophistication here."

I then asked her if any of their staff had some to our area. She said she had no idea, she had 57 officers and it was not possible to keep track of them all.

I said I'd be keeping track of them, you never know what they are up to. I explained that two women came to the door and the type of car they were driving. Pauline said "We don't' have any Fords." I said "Perhaps it was a Commodore" She denied that also.

I hadn't given my name and when she asked I said at this time it's irrelevant I just want to ID the women or make her aware that someone with blank business cards was running around the neighbour hood.

She said "They would not have blank business cards," and asked me to read it to her.

I then asked her to take some notes about my complaint because I felt it might later be relevant. We discussed what she was going to write down and she read it back to me. Basically that two women arrived at the door failed to identify themselves satisfactorily and wouldn't discuss why they were there and demanded entry into my house.

We terminated the conversation with me saying "Thank you, it's not 5:23 isn't it?"

So one now has to question who is in the right and who is in the wrong. The press release says "if the baby's father had at first communicated with DoCS staff rather than repeatedly refuse to co-operate" then it casts doubt about their honesty in their reports to their management.

Many of you have seen the video. Many of you on the Internet are going to see it in a few days time when we put it online. Most of you have read and read and read the ongoing story.

Do I sound like an unreasonable person who would refuse to communicate? For goodness sakes - Communications is my BUSINESS! HAVE YOUR SAY

With what you have seen on TV (at least in Australia) do you feel that I might have been uncooperative? HAVE YOUR SAY

Do you feel the DoCS staff perhaps aren't as honest and now are trying very hard to protect themselves form the biggest - first time caught on camera - bungle they have EVER created?

Shortly - we release the transcripts of the "Interview" where I had total control of the table. Although I was angry and upset, (understably huh?) I still kept my cool head just as so many of you have complimented me on.

We'll take your comments and send them to the complaints line. We have just discovered the DoCS have a formal Complaints Form. We'll be obtaining one (somehow) and put an HTML version online. We'd like you all to help by filling in the form with your own comments.

The Department MUST respond to you within 28 days. Perhaps this will let them know how YOU FEEL. HAVE YOUR SAY Watch for the Complaints Form to come online.