2002-2003

 

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Better Future for Our Kids Bill 2003

 

No.      , 2003

 

(Ms Roxon)

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to establish an Office of National Commissioner for Children and Young People, and for related purposes

   

   

   

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary                                                                                                              1

1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1

2............ Commencement................................................................................... 2

3............ Main object of Act.............................................................................. 2

4............ Principles underlying this Act............................................................. 2

5............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 3

6............ Operation of State and Territory laws................................................. 5

7............ Extension to external Territories.......................................................... 5

8............ Extent to which Act binds the Crown................................................. 5

Part 2—Office of the National Commissioner for Children and Young People   6

Division 1—Office of the National Commissioner for Children and Young People        6

9............ Establishment of the Office of the National Commissioner for Children and Young People   6

10.......... National Commissioner for Children and Young People.................... 6

11.......... Terms and conditions of appointment................................................. 7

12.......... Remuneration of Commissioner.......................................................... 7

13.......... Leave of absence................................................................................. 7

14.......... Outside employment........................................................................... 7

15.......... Resignation......................................................................................... 8

16.......... Termination of appointment................................................................ 8

17.......... Acting Commissioner......................................................................... 8

18.......... Staff and consultants........................................................................... 9

Division 2—Functions of the Commissioner                                                   10

19.......... Functions of the Commissioner........................................................ 10

20.......... How the Commissioner is to perform functions............................... 11

21.......... Commissioner must act independently.............................................. 12

22.......... Co-operation with other agencies...................................................... 12

23.......... Appointment of Deputy Commissioners........................................... 13

Division 3—Reports                                                                                                     14

24.......... Report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. 14

25.......... Reports on inquiries and other functions........................................... 14

26.......... Annual report.................................................................................... 15

27.......... Reports to be tabled in Parliament..................................................... 15

Division 4—Advisory Committee on Children                                              16

28.......... Definitions........................................................................................ 16

29.......... Advisory Committee on Children..................................................... 16

30.......... Membership...................................................................................... 16

31.......... Functions.......................................................................................... 17

32.......... Procedures of the Advisory Committee............................................ 17

33.......... Appointment conditions of members................................................ 17

Division 5—Other advice                                                                                          18

34.......... Commissioner may establish other committees................................. 18

35.......... Commissioner to seek advice in relation to young people................. 18

36.......... Commissioner may consult other bodies........................................... 18

Part 3—National Code for the Protection of Children                                  19

37.......... Object of Part.................................................................................... 19

38.......... National Code for the Protection of Children.................................... 19

39.......... Implementation.................................................................................. 19

40.......... Code to be prepared in first term....................................................... 20

Part 4—Working with Children Check                                                                  21

41.......... Object of Part.................................................................................... 21

42.......... Main role of Commissioner.............................................................. 21

43.......... Definitions........................................................................................ 21

44.......... Nature of Working with Children Check.......................................... 22

45.......... Initial tasks of the Commissioner in respect of the Working with Children Check   22

46.......... Implementation of the Working with Children Check....................... 23

Part 5—Miscellaneous                                                                                                        24

47.......... Regulations....................................................................................... 24

 

A Bill for an Act to establish an Office of National Commissioner for Children and Young People, and for related purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts: