Page 2339 - Week 06 - Thursday, 10 May 2012
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The amendment addresses this issue by incorporating additional criteria to apply to the revoking of foster carers and residential care services where they are no longer available to provide care or have not provided care for a period during the past 12 months. This new provision would not prohibit a carer or entity from applying to become a carer at a later time, and the process to revoke a person’s authorisation remains the same. It still remains that procedural fairness and natural justice provisions of the Children and Young People Act must be followed.
The final amendment relates to the Children and Young People Death Review Committee. Last year the Assembly passed the Children and Young People (Death Review) Amendment Bill 2010, which established the Children and Young People Death Review Committee. The committee has a number of important functions, including helping to prevent or reduce the likelihood of the death of children and young people. The committee is required to maintain a register of deaths of children and young people.
The government has realised that section 727(4) of the Children and Young People Act is not consistent with the same clause contained in the explanatory statement attached to the 2010 amendment bill. This provision relates to when information about the cause or circumstances of the death of a child or young person can be placed on the register of deaths.
The proposed amendment makes clear that any coronial inquest or review by the territory must have ended before any information can be placed on the register of deaths. This ensures that the Children and Young People Death Review Committee is the last mechanism of review once all other review processes have been completed. This amendment is consistent with the explanatory statement attached to the 2010 amendment bill.
The Children and Young People Amendment Bill is an important step by the ACT government to improve the administration and interpretation of the Children and Young People Act, supporting vulnerable children and young people, and ensuring a high-performing and effective youth justice system in the ACT.
Debate (on motion by Mrs Dunne) adjourned to the next sitting.
Disability Services Amendment Bill 2012
Ms Burch, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Community Services, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Women and Minister for Gaming and Racing) (11.55): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
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