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Committee's Reports

The committee tabled Report No. 12, 56th Parliament, Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 and Report No. 13, 56th Parliament, Working with Children Legislation (Indigenous Communities) Amendment Bill 2018 on 14 February 2019.  

 On 31 July 2020, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice provided the committee with a progress report about the implementation of the Queensland Family and Child Commission's recommendation about how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants for blue cards are supported. View: here.

Referral

The Education, Employment and Small Business Committee (EESBC) is examining the two Bills involving the Working with Children (Blue Card) framework.

On the 15 November 2018 the Committee of the Legislative Assembly resolved that the EESBC will examine and report on the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 and Working with Children Legislation (Indigenous Communities) Amendment Bill 2018.

Working with Children Legislation (Indigenous Communities) Amendment Bill 2018 (Private Members Bill)

On 17 October 2018, Mr Robert (Robbie) Katter MP, Member for Traeger, introduced the Working with Children Legislation (Indigenous Communities) Amendment Bill 2018.  The Bill was referred to the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee for detailed consideration.  The committee is required to report by 14 February 2019.

The Explanatory Notes state the objectives of the Bill are to:

• amend the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000, and make consequential amendments to other Acts; and
• provide a new Blue Card framework that empowers Indigenous communities to make decisions which best serve their interests in relation to child protection and employment of community members.

Briefing and consultation on the Bill

The Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee (LACSC) commenced examination of a similar 2017 Bill, which lapsed when the Parliament dissolved in October 2017. The LACSC also commenced examination of the current Bill. It held roundtables in three communities in September 2017 and was briefed by Mr Robbie Katter MP on 14 November 2018.

Yarrabah-25 September 2017-transcript
Hopevale-26 September 2017-transcript
Doomadgee-27 September 2017-transcript
Public briefing-14 November 2018-transcript

Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 (Government Bill)

On 13 November 2018, the Hon. Yvette D’Ath MP, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, introduced the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018. The committee is required to report by 14 February 2019.

The Explanatory Notes state the objectives of the Bill are to:

• give effect to the Government’s election commitment to amend the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 and introduce automated blue card application processes to prevent people commencing paid work while a blue card application is pending (the ‘No Card, No Start’ election commitment); and
• implement recommendations from the Queensland Family and Child Commission reports Keeping Queensland’s children more than safe: Review of the blue card system and Recommendation 28 Supplementary Review: A report on information sharing to enhance the safety of children in regulated home-based services.

Call for submissions on the Working with Children Bills

Submissions closed 4:00pm, 10 December 2018.

Timeline

Related information

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