Page 567 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 9 March 2011
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We have strengthened the committee’s role and responsibility to de-identify data on the register and information within the annual report. This, we believe, is the more appropriate way of protecting confidential information.
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) (11.09): I move amendment No 22 circulated in my name [see schedule 3 at page 689].
Other reports refer to a further government amendment at section 727P that enables the committee to prepare reports on any other matters arising in connection with the exercise of their functions during the reporting period. This enables the committee to progress issues within the reporting period.
When the committee has made such a report, the amendment proposed that the minister must, within three months, give information to the committee about any action that the minister has taken or will take in relation to the matters raised in the report. This provides for an accountability process that ensures the work of the committee is progressed.
Also, Mr Speaker, in order to address the committee report concerning child deaths from 1 January 2004 before the commencement of other amendments being debated today, I propose an amendment at section 727Q(1) that proposes the committee uses its best endeavours to report about child deaths, the age and sex of each young child who died and the pattern or trends identified in relation to the children and young people.
In relation to section 727Q(3), the government amendments also include provisions similar to the three-year reporting of the committee regarding making all recommendations and other matters considered relevant. This amendment also includes provisions at section 727Q(3) prohibiting the inclusion of any information that may identify or allow the identify of a child or young person who has died to be worked out.
The amendment includes provisions at section 727Q(4) that the committee provide a report to the minister within six years of the section commencing and at 727Q(5), the requirement that the minister present the report within six days of receiving the report. Under section 727Q(6) this allows this section to expire six years after the day it commences.
MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens) (11.12): While I agree with the inclusion of much of this clause, I am concerned with the government’s omission of the need to table—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mr Hargreaves): I am sorry to interrupt, Ms Hunter, but are you moving an amendment?
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