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Inquiry Details

Inquiry Name:

Select Committee on Advocacy for Children (Appointment of a Commissioner for Children)

Date Commenced:06/11/2003
Date Ended:07/02/2004
Inquiry Status:Past

Committee Name:

Select Committee on Advocacy for Children (Appointment of a Commissioner for Children)

House:Legislative Council

Members Conducting Inquiry
Members:Hon. Barbara Mary Scott MLC
Hon. Jonathan (Jon) Robert Ford MLC
Hon. Giz Watson MLC



Staff Members: Ms Jan Paniperis, BA (Senior Committee Clerk)
Ms Anne Turner, B.Juris LLB (Advisory Officer (Legal))

Contact Details

Phone No:+61 8 9222 7400
Fax No:+61 8 9222 7805
Email: Click here to send an email to the Committee Office

Terms of Reference:That a select committee of three members be appointed to inquire into and report on -

(1) The appointment of a commissioner for children or the establishment of an independent office for children as the most appropriate means of establishing an advocate for children to enable better government for children and to ensure government and Parliament are aware of the needs of children.
(2) The responsibilities and duties of such a commission or office. This investigation should include but need not be limited to an examination of -
· Developing an appropriate advocate for children in the heart of government;
· Legislative and policy impact statements for children;
· An advocacy function for children;
· Coordination across government agencies affecting children;
· Ensuring that child participation is basic to the functioning of the commission/office and to the development of public policy;
· Developing and benchmarking a strategy for children;
· Investigating complaints and reporting on maladministration of government;
· The physical and mental health of children, including the importance of sport and play in child development and litigious and industrial issues restricting these, the role of television, videos and computers, time spent in childcare, immunisation rates, services for disabled children;
· Research relevant to children and its relevance to the development of public policy;
· The impact of the justice system on children;
· The transport system and its relevance to children’s needs;
· The staffing and budget for this commission/office;
· Any other matters that impact on the good growth and development of young children; and
· The impacts of government and industry policy on the wellbeing of children.
(3) The committee has power to send for persons, papers and records and to travel from place to place.
(4) The committee report to the House not later than 30 June 2004 and if the House do then stand adjourned, the committee to deliver its report to the President, who shall cause the same to be printed by authority of this order.


Legislative Council Guide to Making Submissions to a Parliamentary Committee


Deadline for Submissions:
09/01/2003
Deadline Comments:
It was agreed to allow people as much time as was needed to get their submissions to the Committee.

Unless a venue is specified, hearings are held at the Legislative Council Committee Rooms Ground Floor, 18-32 Parliament Place, West Perth

Hearing Dates:

Date

Time

Venue

Organisation

Witnesses

Broadcasted In

Pub/Priv

10/20/200302:30 PMNgalaMs Raelene Walter
10/20/200303:00 PMMeerilingaMr Bruno Camarri; Ms Sue Burton; Ms Patricia O'Sullivan
11/10/200302:30 PMPrivate personMs Patricia Powell
11/10/200303:00 PMThe National Investment for Young Children: WA BranchDr Trevor Parry
11/17/200302:30 PMAboriginal Legal ServiceMr Dennis Eggington; and Ms Tonia Brajcich
11/17/200303:00 PMMoira Rayner & AssociatesMs Moira Rayner
12/01/200301:00 PMDepartment of Community DevelopmentMs Jane Brazier, Director General; and Dr David Vickary, Director, Children and Youth Services
04/05/200403:15 PMSolicitors, Legal AidSarah Dewsbury and Leah Young

Tabling Date:
06/30/2004

Related Written Submissions:

No documents found

Related Transcripts of Evidence:

• Evidence by Burton, Mrs Susan (Meerilinga Young Children’s Foundation), O'Sullivan, Mrs Patricia (Meerilinga Young Children’s Foundation), Camarri, Mr Bruno (Meerilinga Young Children’s Foundation) on 20/10/2003
• Evidence by Walter, Mrs Raelene Anita (Executive Director, Ngala Family Resource Centre) on 20/10/2003
• Evidence by Powell, Ms Patricia (Electorate Officer, Hon Murray Criddle, MLC) on 10/11/2003
• Evidence by Parry, Associate Professor Trevor Stewart (Director, State Child Development Centre; and Chairman, NIFTEY WA) on 10/11/2003
• Evidence by Rayner, Ms Moira Emilie (Barrister, Wickham Chambers) on 17/11/2003
• Evidence by Carlisle, Miss Katrina (Manager, Court Officer Unit, Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia), Brajcich, Ms Tonia (Manager, Legal Services, Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia), Koch, Ms Terina (Solicitor, Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia) on 17/11/2003
• Evidence by Brazier, Ms Jane (Director General, Department for Community Development), Vicary, Dr David (Executive Director, Office for Children and Youth) on 01/12/2003