-- Graham Young 72 Costin Street Fortitude Valley Qld 4006 Ph: 3252 1470 Fax: 3252 1471 Web Page: http://www.home.gil.com.au/~lecy/index.html
Families, Youth and Community Care/Disability Services, HON. ANNA BLIGH 25/3/99 No return to stolen generation polices No return to stolen generation polices The historic passage of Queensland�s new Child Protection Bill 1999 today in State Parliament has ruled out any return to the policies of the Stolen Generations, the Minister for Families, Youth and Community Care, Anna Bligh said. The Child Protection Bill 1999 enshrines the child placement principle in law, as recommended by the Stolen Generations Inquiry. "The passing of this Bill will ensure that Indigenous children who come into the care and preoteciton of the State are found culturally appropriate homes, preferably with extended family," Ms Bligh said. "After 30 years of inadequate and outdated legislation Queensland�s child protection professionals have the best laws in the country to combat child abuse," the Minister for Families Youth and Community Care, Anna Bligh said. The Child Protection Bill 1998 has replaced the outdated and inadequate Children Services Act 1965. There were 17,233 notifications of suspected child abuse or neglect in Queensland in 1997/98. 14.5% of notifications related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. "This legislation will improve our response to the increasing number of notifications," Ms Bligh said The Child Protection legislation: � recognises the child�s right to protection as paramount. � introduces Australia�s first Charter of Rights for Children in the Care of the State. � enshrines the responsibilities of the State as guardian and regulates standards of care. � clarifies and strengthens the investigative powers of police and departmental officers. � widens the range of orders which can be made by the Children�s Court � reinforces role of families in protecting children and the role of parents in making decisions about their children. � strengthens confidentiality provisions and the right of children and families to privacy. � introduces criminal checks for prospective foster carers. � enshrines the Child Placement Principle as recommended by the Stolen Generations Inquiry. "The disturbing revelations heard during the Forde Inquiry highlights the need to protect the rights of children in the care of the State. "The Charter of Rights for Children in Care reflects the commitment and special obligation the State has to the children placed in its care," the Minister said. "This historic Bill provides an appropriate balance between protecting the rights of individual families and children and the responsibility of the State to act to protect children from abuse and neglect," Ms Bligh said. "After 30 years of inadequate legislation, Queensland is now equipped to get on with providing greater protection to its children." Further information: Caroline Fisher, Media Adviser (07) 3224 7081 or 0408 194 920.
