Premier Peter Beattie today introduced to Queensland Parliament laws that will improve protection of Queensland children from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Premier & Trade, Peter Beattie

20/05/04

Mr Beattie said the Child Safety Amendment Bill 2004 was part of his government's action to meet the recommendations of the Crime and Misconduct Commission's foster care inquiry, and the Forster blueprint for implementing reforms.

"Today we take an important step that reinforces Queensland children's protection from neglect, abuse and exploitation," Mr Beattie told Parliament.

Children come first under the new legislation, which includes a provision for more children to have support from community visitors, who are administered by the Commission for Children and Young People.

"Community visitors currently visit children in residential facilities, detention centres and mental health services," Mr Beattie said.

"Their role is to build a trusting relationship with vulnerable children and keep an eye on how they are treated and advocate for their needs.

"If the child discloses a problem, the community visitor can provide immediate assistance and can report back to the Children's Commissioner, who may decide further investigation and action is needed.

"The Bill extends the Community Visitor Program to enable visits to children in the care of an approved foster carer, or other carer, whether the child is in the custody or guardianship of the Department of Child Safety or placed in out of home care under a voluntary agreement."

Mr Beattie said other measures aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children include:
- Re-ordering principles in the Child Protection Act 1999 to give priority to the welfare and best interests of the child;

- adding a new principle that children should be kept informed of all matters affecting them;

- empowering the Child Safety Department to respond to notifications, made before a child is born, that the child may be in need of protection after birth (this acts on recommendations of the Ombudsman's "Baby Kate" report and the CMC);

- transforming the statutory office of the Commission for Children and Young People into the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian. This will give the Commission more power to monitor and oversee cases handled by the Child Safety Department and other agencies;

- expanding the jurisdiction of the Children Services Tribunal so it can review certain Child Safety Department decisions, on application by the Children's Commissioner; and

- requiring government agencies to report annually on child protection operations.

"This is all about making the child safety system more child-focused," Mr Beattie said.

"The abuse of children is simply not acceptable any time, any place, anywhere."

He said the new era in child protection meant "whole of government responsibility and accountability for an improved child safety system".

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