Page 568 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 9 March 2011
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MS HUNTER: I can move it straight away. I was going to say something on—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Can I just remind you that I think you have a second amendment and the process would be to seek leave to move both amendments when you get to it in your speech. Thank you.
MS HUNTER: Yes, thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. I was just about to come to that. While it is reasonable to say that the committee could refer to these other reports within the annual reporting process, I also think it is fair to assume that at times within that year we may want to scrutinise and be assured of a minister’s response to such a report. On that basis I cannot support this amendment as it stands. I seek leave to move two amendments on the green paper which amend Ms Burch’s amendment No 22.
Leave granted.
MS HUNTER: I move my amendments Nos 1 and 2 on the green paper, which amend Ms Burch’s amendment No 22, circulated in my name [see schedule 3 at page 689].
The first amendment is to ensure that other reports are tabled so that we all have the opportunity to understand and respond to a particular issue of concern to the committee. The minister has raised some concerns about the need for confidentiality. Whilst I have some level of sympathy for this, there are sufficient protections to ensure that identities are not disclosed. I also make the point that the committee knows it will be a public document and so can write it accordingly with that in mind. Also, we need to remember the nature of the committee and the role it serves.
My second amendment is to again insert the requirement for identifying children and young people who have come into the care and protection system. I have spoken this morning about the importance of identifying those young people.
I also at this point want to take the opportunity to thank Mrs Dunne and Ms Burch for the work they have done and the contributions they have made to strengthening and refining this bill to meet the needs of the Canberra community.
The purpose of the Children and Young People (Death Review) Amendment Bill 2010 is to establish a committee to maintain a register of deaths of children and young people in the ACT, identify trends and patterns in relation to the deaths of children and young people, undertake research with the aim of prevention or reduction of child and young people deaths, and provide advice to the territory and non-government bodies about programs and strategies that can prevent or reduce the likelihood of child or young people deaths. The committee will be an independent, multi-disciplinary, ministerial advisory body.
This bill brings the ACT into line with other Australian jurisdictions. The death of any child or young person in the ACT is a tragedy and sometimes is not preventable. However, the purpose of a children and young people death review committee is to review all child and young people deaths, to consider the circumstances and make
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