Report No. 47 - Family and Child Commission Bill 2014

Report

On 13 May 2014, the Committee tabled its Report No. 47, Family and Child Commission Bill 2014. A copy of the report is available here or can be accessed under the 'Related Publications' tab.

No ministerial response to the report is required.

Referral

On 20 March 2014, the Family and Child Commission Bill 2014 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly by the Hon Jarrod Bleijie MP, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.

The Bill was referred to the Health and Community Services Committee in accordance with Standing Order 131. The committee is required to report to the Parliament by 13 May 2014.

Background

The Bill and the related bills (see below) is part of the Queensland Government response to recommendations of the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry (the Commission). The Commission was tasked with reviewing the entire child protection system and to chart a new roadmap for child protection for the next decade. Its final report - Taking Responsibility: A Roadmap for Queensland Child Protection was released in July 2013 and is available here. The Government’s response to the Commission of in Inquiry was released in December 2013 and accepted 115 of the 121 recommendations. The Government’s response is available here.

Objectives of the Bill

The Bill is intended to implement recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry, with some modification, to establish a statutory body, the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC). The purpose of establishing the QFCC is to promote the safety, wellbeing and best interests of children and young people and to improve the child protection system.

The QFCC’s functions include:

  • providing oversight of the child protection system
  • promoting and advocating the communities responsibilities, and the safety and wellbeing of children
  • developing and review of workforce planning and development strategies
  • evaluating performance in delivering child protection and family support services
  • coordinating a multidisciplinary research program
  • provide leadership and expert advice
  • increasing collaboration and building capacity to improve service delivery

Examination

The committee will examine the policy to be given effect by the Bill and the application of fundamental legislative principles in section 4 of the Legislative Standards Act 1992.

The Bill and Explanatory Notes are available at:

Related Bills

The committee is also examining the Child Protection Reform Amendment Bill 2014 and the Public Guardian Bill 2014. The three bills are part of the Government’s implementation of recommendations from the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry (the Carmody Inquiry).

Call for submissions

Submissions on the Bill closed on Monday 14 April 2014. Accepted submissions are published on the 'Submissions' tab at the top of this page.

Public Briefing

A public briefing on the three Bills by the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, and Department of Premier and Cabinet, was held at the Parliamentary Annexe, Brisbane on Wednesday 26 March. The transcript of the briefing is available here.

Public Hearing

A public hearing on the three Bills was held on Tuesday 29 April 2014 in Brisbane to hear from invited witnesses. The transcript of the hearing is available here.

Bill passed

The three Bills have been debated together (as cognate Bills) and passed by the Parliament.

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Hon Jarrod Bleijie MP, moved amendments to this Bill during consideration in detail. The amendments and Explanatory Notes to the amendments are available:

The transcript of the parliamentary debate is available here. By clicking the icon immediately before each speaker’s name, you can view video footage of each speaker’s debate.

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Related Publications

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