Tasmanian Greens MPs

Final Motion

That the House:—

(1)          Notes Tasmania does not have its own child safe standards against which the performance of those providing Out of Home Care (OOHC) (including the Department of Communities) can be held to account.  

(2)          Recognises that while the Charter of Rights for Tasmanian Children and Young People in OOHC is embedded in practice, there is no public reporting specifically against the Charter.

(3)          Further notes Tasmania, unlike other jurisdictions including Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, is yet to introduce legally mandated child safe standards or risk management principles.

(4)          Further notes that requirements for organisations including schools to comply with Child Safe Standards, will be progressed as part of the implementation of the recommendations arising from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

(5)          Further recognises child safe standards provide a framework to identify gaps and improve policy practices around child safety.

(6)          Agrees child safe standards ensure organisations are well prepared to protect children from abuse and neglect.

(7)          Calls on the Government to work with all jurisdictions and provide leadership on the Child Safe Standards recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse to embed these principles into the leadership, governance and culture of Tasmanian institutions and allow children to participate in decisions affecting them with an update to the Parliament by March 2019.

Original Motion

That the House:—

(1)          Notes Tasmania does not have its own child safe standards against which the performance of those providing Out of Home Care (OOHC) (including the Department of Communities) can be held to account.  

(2)          Recognises that while the Charter of Rights for Tasmanian Children and Young People in OOHC is embedded in practice, there is no public reporting specifically against the Charter.

(3)          Further notes Tasmania, unlike other jurisdictions including Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, is yet to introduce legally mandated child safe standards or risk management principles.

(4)          Further notes child safe standards are compulsory minimum standards for all organisations that provide services to children, including schools.

(5)          Further recognises child safe standards provide a framework to identify gaps and improve policy practices around child safety.

(6)          Agrees child safe standards ensure organisations are well prepared to protect children from abuse and neglect.

(7)          Calls on the Government to draft child safe standards and develop an implementation plan by 1 December 2018.