Child Protection Reform and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
Referred to Community Support and Services Committee
▸22 members spoke19 support3 mixed
As Minister for Children and Youth Justice, moved the bill to strengthen children's rights and voices in child protection decisions, enshrine the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle, and improve blue card assessments.
“This bill will make Queensland one of the first jurisdictions to mandate that child safety officers must make active efforts in meeting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
As Shadow Minister, announced the LNP would not oppose the bill while raising concerns about reunification practices, child placement decisions, and potential unintended consequences of DV information sharing for blue cards.
“The LNP will not be opposing this bill.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
As Committee Chair, spoke in support of the bill emphasising the importance of giving children a voice in decisions affecting them, referencing testimony from young people with lived experience of the child protection system.
“It is my firmly held belief that all children should be afforded the opportunity to have a voice in decisions that are made about them and their lives.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Supported the bill while noting the origins in the Mason Jett Lee coronial findings and discussing stakeholder submissions on adoption preferences and the order of placement options.
“I can guarantee the committee was resolute in its decision that this bill is the best thing for those vulnerable Queenslanders.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Strongly supported the bill from her perspective as a former child protection worker and Indigenous member, emphasising the importance of cultural recognition and empowerment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
“When we talk about working in the best interests of the child, it is our duty as policymakers to ensure we not only give these children a voice, but we support and we nurture their voice to feel empowered and gain control of their reality.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Spoke in support of the bill's amendments to strengthen children's rights and voices, including expanded rights in the charter relating to culture, religion, fairness, respect, and the right to make complaints.
“This bill amends the act to ensure that the general principles that are contained in the act in section 5B are relevant to making decisions about what is in the best interests of the child.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Supported the bill as a government member, contributing to the debate on child protection reforms.
“I rise to speak in support of the Child Protection Reform and Other Legislation Amendment Bill.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Supported the bill's intent but strongly criticised the government's child protection system, citing Child Death Review Board data showing children known to child safety have nearly twice the mortality rate of other children.
“According to the Child Death Review Board, children known to the department of child safety unit have a mortality rate almost twice as high as other children.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Supported the bill as a government member, contributing to the debate on strengthening children's rights in the child protection system.
“I rise to speak in support of the Child Protection Reform and Other Legislation Amendment Bill.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Gave strong support to the bill and the minister's efforts, while noting concerns about departmental culture and reports of children's pleas to stay with foster families being ignored.
“It is clear the minister is genuine about wanting to develop a comprehensive suite of child protection legislation that actually does what the label says—child protection. She has my full support on this.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Strongly supported the bill, paying tribute to foster carers and emphasising the importance of amplifying children's voices in care decisions to reduce trauma.
“This legislation will help to ensure that no longer will young people in care be seen but not heard.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Supported the bill, sharing personal experience of foster care training and emphasising the need for children's rights to come first over parental rights in certain circumstances.
“I support the amendments to the principles of the Child Protection Act giving children a stronger voice in decisions that affect them.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Supported the bill as a government member, contributing to the debate on child protection reforms.
“I rise to speak in support of the Child Protection Reform and Other Legislation Amendment Bill.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Supported the bill as a government member, contributing to the debate on strengthening children's rights.
“I rise to speak in support of the Child Protection Reform and Other Legislation Amendment Bill.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
As a committee member, announced the LNP would not oppose the bill while raising concerns about domestic violence information sharing for blue cards and the potential for unintended consequences.
“We will not be opposing the bill.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Supported the bill as a government member, contributing to the debate on child protection reforms.
“I rise to speak in support of the Child Protection Reform and Other Legislation Amendment Bill.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Expressed concerns about the bill creating different standards for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children, arguing child safety should not depend on race. Also raised concerns about DV orders being used in blue card assessments.
“Unfortunately, I believe this bill sets out to create different standards of treatment for the care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Supported the bill as a government member, contributing to the debate on child protection reforms.
“I rise to speak in support of the Child Protection Reform and Other Legislation Amendment Bill.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Commended the government for alternative principles for Aboriginal children but expressed strong concerns about blue card changes and the influence of stolen generation fears on child protection decisions.
“I am of the view that people are scared as hell of being accused of that same sort of activity now. It worries me that decisions will not be made in the best interests of kids.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Supported the bill, particularly welcoming the information sharing provisions for blue cards and royal commission recommendations for interstate cooperation.
“I am pleased with the recommendations in respect of the Working with children checks report and the recommendations of the royal commission on information sharing amongst the states.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Supported the bill as an LNP member, contributing to the debate on child protection reforms.
“I rise to make a contribution to the Child Protection Reform and Other Legislation Amendment Bill.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Supported the bill's focus on children's participation rights while calling for clearer definitions of 'active efforts' for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.
“Nothing is more important than protecting our children and ensuring young Queenslanders get the best possible start to life.”— 2022-05-10View Hansard
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill reforms Queensland's child protection laws to give children in care stronger rights and a greater voice in decisions affecting them. It also improves screening of carers and people working with children by enabling domestic violence information sharing and connecting Queensland to a national database that tracks people barred from working with children in other states.
Who it affects
Children in out-of-home care will have expanded rights and more input into decisions about their lives. Foster and kinship carers will have less frequent renewals but new mandatory reporting obligations. People with domestic violence histories or adverse working with children decisions in other states will face greater scrutiny.
Children's rights and participation
The bill expands the Charter of Rights for children in care and introduces new requirements for decision-makers to genuinely listen to children and give them meaningful opportunities to participate in decisions. Children must be regularly told about their rights and how to exercise them.
- New rights added to Charter including fair treatment, cultural connection, identity, language, religion, personal belongings, and play
- Decision-makers must give children ongoing opportunities to participate and record their views in the child's own words
- Children can now request reviews of their case plans and challenge decisions through QCAT
- Strengthened Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle requiring 'active efforts' rather than just 'having regard to'
Carer regulation and support
Foster and kinship carer certificates will be renewed every 3 years instead of 2, reducing paperwork. Kinship carers taking additional children will have a streamlined assessment process. A new carers' register will be established to track suitability across providers.
- Certificate renewals extended from 2 years to 3 years
- Streamlined assessment for kinship carers already approved taking additional children
- Foster and kinship carers now have mandatory reporting obligations for suspected abuse
- Legislative framework established for a carers' register to track unsuitable persons
- Carers must be given relevant information about children before placement, including needs and risks
Blue card system improvements
Blue Card Services will be able to consider domestic violence information when assessing applications. Queensland will join a national database that shares information about people barred from working with children in other states, preventing them from obtaining a Queensland blue card.
- Blue Card Services can now request domestic violence information from police for assessments
- Queensland joins the national Working with Children Check Reference System
- People with a negative notice or bar in another state will be automatically refused or have their Queensland card cancelled
- Blue card requirements extended to all 'risk-assessed roles' in licensed care services, including contractors