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TOUGH FEDERAL-STATE LAWS ARE NEEDED For CONVICTED SEX OFFENDERS..
SEVERE PENALTIES/DETERRENTS ARE
WARRANTED.
THERE IS NO BETTER CURE THAN "PREVENTION"
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Putting Victoria's Children First: A New Agenda (16-12-04) The Premier, Steve Bracks, today announced the creation of a new Minister for Children to drive the delivery of improved services and a better start in life for Victorian children. Community Services Minister, Sherryl Garbutt, will become the new Minister for Children and will oversee a new Office for Children in the Department of Human Services (DHS). A new Child Safety Commissioner will also be appointed to ensure the safety and protection of Victorian children at risk. "Victoria's children are our greatest asset and our investment for the future," Mr Bracks said. "Overwhelmingly, evidence shows investment in the early years supports families in the important job of raising happy and healthy children. "This Government recognises the importance of the early years and has boosted funding to Victoria's child and family support system since coming to office. "The Minister for Children will build on this investment by providing a strong voice for children and delivering more coordinated and integrated services to give them the best possible start in life." The Minister for Children and the new Office of Children were major recommendations in the Premier's Children's Advisory Committee (PCAC) Report, Joining the Dots: A New Vision for Victoria's Children. The Premier also released an exposure draft of the Working With Children legislation and a discussion paper for public consultation until February 25. "This legislation will widen the bans already in place on those working with children and extend the regime for checking those employed or volunteering in child-related fields," he said. "Compulsory police checks are already carried out on teachers and child care workers. In future, the self-employed and volunteers who have contact with children through pre-schools, schools, religious organisations and overnight camps will also be checked." The proposed checks will consider the following information: · Registration on the recently established Sex Offender Register; · Convictions for sexual assault, child-related violence or trafficking or supplying drugs to a child anywhere in Australia; · Pending charges for sexual assault, child-related violence or drug offences and · Serious disciplinary action by prescribed professional registration boards. The Attorney General, Rob Hulls, said it was proposed an assessment notice allowing a person to work with children would be valid for five years. A reassessment will be automatically triggered if a person is charged with a relevant crime. "The checks will impact on many Victorians and we want to make sure they reflect community expectations," Mr Hulls said. "That's why we urge everyone with an interest in the protection of our children to make submissions on the exposure draft Bill and discussion paper." The new Child Safety Commissioner will be located in DHS and report to the Minister for Children. Ms Garbutt said the Commissioner would implement a number of measures designed to better protect vulnerable children in the community. Other key Government responses to the PCAC Report include: · A permanent Victorian Children's Council to be established to provide expert policy advice to the Premier and Minister for Children; · The new Office for Children within DHS to bring together the range of children's services provided outside school, ranging from maternal and child health, kindergartens to foster care and juvenile justice services. · A new Interdepartmental Board to be established to bring together Secretaries of Departments to ensure better co-ordination of children's policies and services; · New regulations for Outside School Hours Child Care and · A new Statewide Plan for Victoria's Children to provide a blueprint for children's services from the pre-natal period to school entry right across the State. "These new initiatives will assist the Government to effectively plan for the delivery of children's services, now and in the future, and ensure our young children are school-ready," Ms Garbutt said. "The Statewide plan will identify gaps in the children's service system and guide future improvements to better meet the needs of children and families." Key legislation for children is expected to be passed through the Parliament next year, including the Working with Children Act and the revised Children and Young Persons Act. The Premier's Children's Advisory Committee Report, Joining the Dots: A New Vision for Victoria's Children, and the Government's response is available on website address www.dpc.vic.gov.au The exposure draft Bill and discussion paper are available on the Department of Justice website at: www.justice.vic.gov.au Source- http://hnb.dhs.vic.gov.au/web/pubaff/medrel.nsf/0/c5531a63644763f6ca256f6c00061142?OpenDocument |