Page 3559 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 18 September 2019

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In conclusion, I look forward to hearing the minister’s update either today—I understand there is some proposal that she may give an update today—or, if not today, later this month. I fully understand that this will be an interim update and not a final report, but it is important for this Assembly to be informed regarding progress so far, what still needs to happen and the current time line for when this review will conclude. I commend Mrs Kikkert’s motion to the Assembly and I look forward to the minister’s response.

MS STEPHEN-SMITH (Kurrajong—Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Children, Youth and Families, Minister for Health and Minister for Urban Renewal) (3.23), by leave: I move:

(1) Insert new paragraph (1)(f):

“(f) submissions on the discussion paper Review of Child Protection Decisions in the ACT will soon be publicly available on the Justice and Community Safety Directorate website;”.

(2) Omit paragraph (3), substitute:

“(3) calls on the Minister for Children, Youth and Families to update the Assembly no later than the last sitting day in March 2020 regarding:

(a) how the voices of children and young people are included in this consultation process;

(b) the progress and outcomes of this review and the consultation process; and

I thank Mrs Dunne for moving Mrs Kikkert’s motion on her behalf. It is an important issue that we are discussing today, one that I take very seriously. The ACT government as a whole is committed to ensuring that the voices of children and young people are heard as we develop policies and implement services, particularly children and young people involved in the out of home care system.

On 6 May 2019, as the motion notes, the Review of child protection decisions in the ACT discussion paper was released for public consultation. Following an extension of the consultation period, consultations closed on 28 June 2019. As part of this consultation process, I wrote to 18 stakeholders, inviting their feedback on the issues raised in the discussion paper and offering them a face-to-face meeting with the independent consultant to support their participation. These stakeholders included the CREATE Foundation, the peak organisation representing the voices of children and young people with an out of home care experience; the Our Booris, Our Way steering committee; the Human Rights Commission; local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled organisations; disability advocacy organisations; and Carers ACT.

I am pleased to inform the Assembly that 18 formal submissions were received during the consultation period. Five organisations that made a written submission and one carer family accepted the opportunity to meet with the consultant, Mr Muir.

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