Page 561 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 9 March 2011
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MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens) (10.48): The ACT Greens agree with the inclusion as it provides further clarification that information produced under 727M is protected information under chapter 25 of the Children and Young People Act 2008.
Amendment agreed to.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services, Minister for Children and Young People, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Women) (10.48): I move amendment No 14 circulated in my name [see schedule 1 at page 684].
The bill at section 727M makes provision for the requesting of information, documents and other things by the committee. The government supports these provisions and proposes a further amendment at section 727M(2A) that ensures that the committee, consistent with their requirement not to review the death of a particular child or young person, cannot require a family member of the deceased child or young person to give information or produce a document or something in relation to a child or young person who has died.
The committee’s work is to review child deaths and in some instances this may occur many years after the death has occurred. Interrupting the bereavement or healing of families is not supported. As stated, this is not compatible with the functions of the committee.
MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens) (10.49): It was never the ACT Greens’ intention to compel family members to be part of this process and so we agree with this amendment. However, the point should be made that family members should have the right to participate should they wish. The committee may very well decide that, like the coroners office, a brochure or pamphlet should be developed that explains the role of the committee and how people may have input should they wish to. This amendment still affords family members the right to participate without compelling them to be part of the process if they do not want to be.
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (10.50): This amendment strengthens Ms Hunter’s previous amendment No 1 by preventing the committee requiring a family member of a deceased child or young person to provide information to the committee. I have already mentioned the importance of respecting the privacy and grief of families of deceased children and young people so that they are not dragged through a process that will revive that grief more than absolutely necessary. Nonetheless, it is important for the government to promote the work of the committee so that families, should they so wish, at their own initiative contribute to the work of the committee.
Amendment agreed to.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services, Minister for Children and Young People, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Women) (10.51), by leave: I move amendments Nos 15 and 16 circulated in my name together [see schedule 1 at page 684].
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