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About the Bill

On 14 June 2019, the Hon Di Farmer MP, Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, introduced the Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019.  The House referred the Bill to the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee for detailed consideration.  The committee tabled its report on Friday 9 August 2019.  The Bill was passed with amendment on 22 August 2019. 

The Bill proposes to amend the Youth Justice Act 1992, the Bail Act 1980 and the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 to:

• reduce the period in which proceedings in the youth justice system are finalised

• remove legislative barriers to enable more young people to be granted bail

• ensure appropriate conditions are attached to grants of bail

• introduce a new information sharing regime to assist government and non-government organisations to assess and respond to the needs of young people in the youth justice system

• clarify that conditions requiring the use of an electronic device cannot be imposed on a child

• authorise the use of body worn cameras and the capture of audio recordings through CCTV technology

• provide that in sentencing a young person for the manslaughter of a child under 12 years, courts must treat the defencelessness of the victim and their vulnerability as an aggravating factor

• allow the Office of the Public Guardian’s community visitor program for children to visit young people who may reside at a child accommodation service provided or funded by the Department of Youth Justice.

Committee report

The committee tabled its Report No. 43, 56th Parliament - Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 on 9 August 2019.

Related information

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